Sermon

A Perspective of Giving

Plains Baptist Church

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  1. to Mark chapter 12 here this morning. We are down in verse 41 is where we're at in our series here

    Mark 12 chapter mention

  2. in our study of Mark chapter 12. And we come to Jesus here as he has finished teaching those and

    Mark 12 chapter mention

  3. being questioned. You know, we find I think he was resting here a little bit before the trip back to

  4. Bethany there for the evening. And the Bible tells us he was sitting there across from the treasury.

  5. You know, and this place here is by the entrance of the temple. And this is a place that was not been

  6. unfamiliar to Jesus. John chapter 8 tells us that he was here just a few months earlier at the Feast of

    John 8 chapter mention

  7. Tabernacles or the Feast of, also known as the Feast of Booths and things, that he would have been there

  8. and he was teaching beside the treasury that area. And part of that is that's the entrance. It's the

  9. Court of Women. They called it. It's where everybody could come and go through there. And the people

  10. would have continued to come and walk through that because there was going to be many there because

  11. of the Passover. And thousands upon thousands had come to Jerusalem for the Passover that was about

  12. to happen. And one of them was giving an offering unto the Lord along with the temple tax that every

  13. male would have paid. That was one of those things back from Exodus chapter 30 that each male over 20

    Exodus 30 chapter mention

  14. years of age had to put in an offering every year. And we find that that was a part of what people

  15. would have been doing. There had been a long line of individuals walking into the temple this day.

  16. In other words, Jesus wasn't just going to pick one out. He was observing multiple people

  17. coming and going and doing this. And this line would have been passing by and including people

  18. from all walks of life, from the rich to the poor. They would have passed by the collection boxes on

  19. the right. The Bible tells us that they had the boxes that were established back with the kings.

  20. And we find that those boxes would have had these large mouths upon them, look kind of like a trumpet.

  21. You know? And so I guess the biggest thing I could connect with today on this as far as connect.

  22. How many of you have ever been through those toll booths? Or at least nowadays they just scan your

  23. license plate. But you know, we've been through those and they have, you have to throw coins in

  24. them and you have that big bucket to hit. That's kind of the effect. And you hear the change hit the

  25. bucket, it goes all the way down the bucket. Now if you can imagine that, it makes noise on plastic.

  26. But imagine what that sounds on like a brass or a metal or a copper as it rolls down into that

  27. container. And so that's kind of what Jesus is describing of what's happening here.

  28. And so that kind of is going to give us a picture here this morning because the boxes had these

  29. trumpet-like collectors placed. And they tell us that there was 13 boxes that were used there. And

  30. they had multiple ones for the same thing. But you had so many people come and they needed

  31. these to be able to get everybody through at an opportunity. But they would throw them in the

  32. specific containers of one to help the poor and one for their temple tax and one for an offering

  33. unto the Lord. And they'd have this method of keeping those things separate of what they were doing.

  34. But we find here Jesus is observing. He's going to give us a perspective this morning on giving.

  35. Because you know it's important to realize that God does have a perspective on giving.

  36. But He also has a perspective on us giving. And that's important because we're going to look at

  37. what Jesus has to say here this morning about this as we see Him sitting there with His disciples

  38. listening to the noise of these coins rolling down into the buckets. You know that itself would

  39. have been something entertaining just to watch you know. But as we see here I want to see the picture

  40. here as we set out here and read the passage this morning so you can see the context in your mind of

  41. what's happening and what's transpiring here with the people. And so as we consider these things let's

  42. us stand together as we get ready to read the Word of God here this morning. We're going to pick up in

  43. verse 41 here this morning. And it says this,

  44. And Jesus sat over against the treasury and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury.

  45. And many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow and she threw in two mites

  46. which would make a farthing. And she said unto his disciples

  47. And he called unto him his disciples and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you that this poor widow

  48. hath cast more in than all they which have cast into the treasury. For all they did cast in of

  49. their abundance but she of her want did cast in all that she had even all her living. Let's pray.

  50. Heavenly Fathers we come before you this morning. Lord we just pray have your hand upon the message,

  51. upon the preaching of your Word here today, upon the hearts of individuals here.

  52. Lord to understand the importance

  53. that you place and that perspective

  54. on giving and how it ties in

  55. to our life. Lord to have the right attitude, the correct perspective

  56. and Lord to have our hearts right regarding

  57. giving and just even our relationship with you and the reflection

  58. that it has as we see these things here this morning.

  59. Lord we pray just have your hand upon each one. Lord you know the need.

  60. You know what each one brought in with them today. Lord we might be able to focus upon you

  61. and your Word here today. Lord we pray if there's one here today that doesn't know you as Savior

  62. that they would understand the importance

  63. of having that right relationship. But Lord also for your people

  64. if there's things that need to be corrected that they might be willing

  65. to get with you and to set those things

  66. aright.

  67. And Lord we ask all these things in Jesus name.

  68. Amen.

  69. You may be seated.

  70. You know as we see here as Jesus is here

  71. it's late afternoon. We know he's been in the

  72. in the temple

  73. teaching and being questioned all day

  74. being examined

  75. by the leaders and

  76. it had been a long day and here they're reaching

  77. towards the end of the day before they're getting ready

  78. to go out from the temple and start beginning to make their way back to Bethany

  79. where he's going to spend the night

  80. here on this Tuesday

  81. late afternoon for us is how

  82. we would look at it and we see here that this

  83. time and Jesus is sitting there watching people pass by the offering boxes.

  84. You know.

  85. Now for us that would seem kind of weird if we had a

  86. if we brought the offering box up here and we sat a row of people for you to watch

  87. get your giving.

  88. You know in our culture we'd all feel a little weird about that.

  89. But it wasn't an awkward thing.

  90. I want you to get that out of your mind.

  91. It wasn't an awkward thing.

  92. It was a common area where people would gather.

  93. There'd been much many more people there than just Jesus and his disciples.

  94. But Jesus was observing and he wanted to observe

  95. because he knew this was going to be an opportunity to give his

  96. disciples a key lesson on a perspective on giving.

  97. Because you know oftentimes we think quantity

  98. of giving

  99. is more important than the heart of giving.

  100. Sometimes we think the more somebody gives

  101. they must be more right with God.

  102. And it's a wrong perspective

  103. because it has nothing to do with the amount.

  104. The amount whether small or great

  105. has nothing to do with your relationship with God.

  106. Because we're going to find here that Jesus makes a drastic contrast between people.

  107. To give a perspective of what's happening here this morning.

  108. Because we find here that Jesus witnesses something.

  109. And as I read through this I'm not sure whether he

  110. drew his attention to this lady specifically.

  111. You know like hey guys come around

  112. and let's watch here a little bit.

  113. We don't know all the little details

  114. but we know that Jesus made a point of pointing out this widow

  115. compared to all the others that were giving.

  116. In other words he pointed her out specifically.

  117. You know Luke tells us it was a certain widow.

  118. In other words it was a specific individual.

  119. This isn't a generic.

  120. You know sometimes you'll hear things spoken of

  121. in a generic or applying to everybody.

  122. And sometimes you'll hear that

  123. read that word in scripture where a certain person

  124. that means it's personal.

  125. It has a connection to an individual.

  126. Just like you and I.

  127. And we're going to see here that

  128. this dynamic of giving

  129. because this morning I want you to understand

  130. as we look through this

  131. that your giving is assumed.

  132. A person's giving to God is assumed.

  133. It isn't if or when.

  134. It's assumed that you will.

  135. You say how do we know that

  136. because Jesus was sitting by the treasury

  137. and people were just walking in and giving.

  138. It was considering it's a command

  139. also to the children of Israel.

  140. You know.

  141. I want you to know

  142. and often times people get caught up

  143. in trying to parse things out of giving.

  144. But I believe that we live today

  145. and even in higher

  146. a command to give

  147. because a command to give

  148. is not a command

  149. just to do the offerings

  150. that the Israelites did to give.

  151. It's an offering

  152. because we love the Lord.

  153. It should have a heart attached to it.

  154. It should have had a heart attached to theirs also.

  155. But you know what?

  156. Oftentimes we can do things mechanically.

  157. We can get methodical in what we do.

  158. You know we just do

  159. and just do the process

  160. and do the steps.

  161. But I want you to understand

  162. we have an example of giving

  163. because we're going to talk a little bit

  164. about tithe this morning

  165. and what that is.

  166. But I want you to understand

  167. that in the New Testament

  168. the command is tithe

  169. to the tithe

  170. but it's not directed

  171. specifically at us

  172. but because of what God's done for us

  173. we ought to understand

  174. that our giving to Him

  175. and His purpose

  176. for His use

  177. is assumed.

  178. That somebody whose heart's right with God

  179. will want to give.

  180. Because Jesus makes it clear

  181. where your heart is

  182. and your treasure is

  183. are connected.

  184. You cannot separate

  185. your pocketbook from your heart.

  186. People try to say otherwise

  187. but you can observe and know.

  188. You know if people see

  189. what you spend your money on

  190. they can pretty much assume

  191. what's important to you.

  192. And what priorities are.

  193. Why?

  194. Because the two are connected.

  195. How we use our resources

  196. is connected to the things

  197. that we love

  198. in no matter what area of life

  199. that it is.

  200. But I want you to understand

  201. this morning

  202. why is an offering assumed?

  203. Have you ever considered?

  204. Look over to Genesis chapter 4.

    Genesis 4 chapter mention

  205. Genesis chapter 4

    Genesis 4 chapter mention

  206. and verse 4.

  207. This is the first recorded

  208. offering unto the Lord.

  209. It's interesting that this is

  210. very early.

  211. Notice what it tells us here.

  212. And Abel

  213. he also

  214. brought the firstling

  215. of his flock

  216. and of

  217. and fat thereof

  218. and the Lord

  219. had respect

  220. unto Abel

  221. and unto his

  222. what?

  223. Offering.

  224. I want you to know

  225. that giving to the Lord

  226. is something

  227. that was not

  228. a law invention.

  229. You know Moses

  230. didn't come up with it

  231. on the mount.

  232. Giving to the Lord

  233. why did Abel do this?

  234. Because of his respect

  235. and love

  236. for God.

  237. He said I want to give

  238. an offering

  239. unto the Lord.

  240. There was a connection

  241. there

  242. in that

  243. and we find

  244. that Abraham

  245. before the law

  246. in Genesis chapter 14

    Genesis 14 chapter mention

  247. there in verse 20

  248. it says

  249. and he says this

  250. and blessed be

  251. the most high God

  252. which hath delivered

  253. thine enemies

  254. into thine hand

  255. and he gave him

  256. tithes

  257. of all.

  258. In other words

  259. all that Abraham

  260. had recovered

  261. there as he had

  262. conquered the five kings

  263. you can go back

  264. in Genesis

  265. and look through that

  266. but he gave

  267. tithes of all.

  268. Now often times

  269. people say

  270. well tithing is the law

  271. well it's in the law

  272. but tithing

  273. isn't

  274. specifically law.

  275. That's a very important

  276. thing to separate

  277. because tithes

  278. were given

  279. unto the Lord

  280. and offerings

  281. unto the Lord

  282. prior to the law.

  283. We see those things

  284. play out

  285. through the patriarchs.

  286. They were given

  287. offering unto the Lord

  288. and a respect

  289. unto God

  290. honoring God

  291. loving God

  292. and we see here

  293. the fact that

  294. Jesus was observing

  295. those that gave

  296. that day

  297. reveals something

  298. very important

  299. and that's

  300. he has a perspective

  301. about giving

  302. and specifically

  303. a perspective

  304. about a person's

  305. giving

  306. because he's assessing

  307. an individual

  308. not generic

  309. but a person.

  310. As we're going to look

  311. here this morning

  312. we see here

  313. that this giving

  314. is just expected

  315. as it was there

  316. as from a child

  317. of God today

  318. as it was in the beginning.

  319. You know we need

  320. to understand

  321. that giving

  322. to the Lord

  323. has an expectation

  324. it's assumed

  325. because what you love

  326. if you love God

  327. you're going to do what?

  328. You're going to want to give.

  329. Why?

  330. Because your wallet

  331. and your heart

  332. are attached.

  333. You can't separate them.

  334. Jesus makes it clear

  335. that your heart

  336. and your wallet

  337. are attached.

  338. Matthew chapter 6

    Matthew 6 chapter mention

  339. makes that very clear

  340. but we see here

  341. as Jesus is there

  342. he says

  343. he beheld

  344. how they gave.

  345. Look there

  346. in verse 41

  347. and Jesus sat over

  348. against the treasury

  349. and beheld

  350. how the people

  351. cast money

  352. into the treasury.

  353. In other words

  354. they were there

  355. a while

  356. he was watching

  357. with expectation

  358. he was watching

  359. with discernment

  360. about what was given.

  361. You know Luke

  362. records this also

  363. and Luke says

  364. he saw

  365. that word saw

  366. there in Luke chapter 21

    Luke 21 chapter mention

  367. has an implication

  368. behind it

  369. that means

  370. he understood

  371. what was happening.

  372. In other words

  373. it wasn't just

  374. an observation

  375. but an understanding

  376. of what was taking place.

  377. Because as these people

  378. would march by

  379. and to give their offering

  380. you see

  381. that there's a

  382. connection

  383. that's going to be made.

  384. You know that

  385. reality of them

  386. bringing it

  387. to the temple

  388. you know

  389. I'm going to

  390. give a rabbit trail

  391. here for a moment

  392. because it's a good

  393. important time

  394. to put this in.

  395. Because another

  396. observation you'll see

  397. here is where

  398. they were giving.

  399. Because today

  400. there's much confusion

  401. about where somebody

  402. ought to give

  403. to the Lord.

  404. And we find

  405. some principles

  406. within scripture

  407. because the place

  408. that we're expected

  409. to give

  410. that place

  411. is the church

  412. in the Old Testament

  413. was the tabernacle

  414. or temple

  415. but later

  416. it is through

  417. the church

  418. the local gathering

  419. of assembling

  420. of God's people.

  421. The church

  422. is not

  423. an institution

  424. it's an organization

  425. of people together.

  426. I want you to

  427. understand this morning

  428. what we're talking about

  429. because the place

  430. in the Old Testament

  431. you know

  432. we find here

  433. that we ought

  434. to give a tithe

  435. of those things.

  436. You know

  437. Leviticus 27

    Leviticus 27:30

  438. verse 30

  439. tells us this

  440. it says

  441. in all the tithe

  442. of the land

  443. whether of the seed

  444. of the land

  445. or the fruit

  446. of the trees

  447. it is the Lord's

  448. it's holy

  449. under the Lord.

  450. I want you to

  451. understand

  452. what you have

  453. is holy

  454. under the Lord

  455. not because

  456. God gave it to you

  457. but it's how you

  458. use it

  459. because it's giving

  460. it back to him

  461. the one who blessed you.

  462. If you give

  463. to the Lord

  464. it makes the whole

  465. thing holy.

  466. To give to the Lord

  467. out of the increase

  468. in the substance

  469. that we have

  470. it's holy

  471. under the Lord

  472. and we find here

  473. that even in Malachi

  474. you know

  475. a verse

  476. often times

  477. people will use

  478. to try to beat down

  479. but I want you

  480. to see

  481. there's a lot

  482. of emphasis

  483. here that's

  484. important to

  485. understand

  486. because the

  487. context

  488. is where

  489. they were

  490. doing it

  491. it tells us

  492. in Malachi

  493. 310

  494. bring ye all

  495. the tithes

  496. into the storehouse

  497. that there may

  498. be meat

  499. in mine house

  500. and prove me

  501. now herewith

  502. sayeth the

  503. Lord of hosts

  504. I want you

  505. to understand

  506. that the storehouse

  507. it's referring to

  508. in Malachi

  509. is the temple

  510. and today

  511. we don't go

  512. to the temple

  513. to give an offering

  514. we come to church

  515. to give an offering

  516. because that's

  517. where God

  518. has established

  519. because in the

  520. New Testament

  521. we find Paul

  522. to the church

  523. at Corinth

  524. tells us this

  525. he says

  526. upon the first

  527. day of the week

  528. let every one

  529. of you lay

  530. in store in him

  531. as God

  532. hath prospered

  533. that there be

  534. no gathering

  535. when I come

  536. the context

  537. of this verse

  538. is a local church

  539. that was gathering

  540. in the resources

  541. that those things

  542. might be present

  543. that gathering

  544. in the gathering

  545. place

  546. was the local church

  547. you know

  548. the context

  549. here

  550. is the proper

  551. place

  552. to give your

  553. tithes and offerings

  554. you know

  555. as a pastor

  556. sometimes people

  557. will come

  558. and ask

  559. you know

  560. about

  561. supporting

  562. missionaries

  563. or evangelists

  564. or other projects

  565. you know

  566. and often times

  567. people say

  568. well I tithe

  569. to this over here

  570. or tithe to that

  571. over there

  572. I want you

  573. to understand

  574. biblically

  575. you're tithing

  576. in the wrong place

  577. you're giving

  578. unto the Lord

  579. in the wrong place

  580. because that

  581. resource

  582. is to come

  583. to the local

  584. church

  585. where it can

  586. be directed

  587. as God

  588. would see fit

  589. there's a lot

  590. of miscommunication

  591. and misinformation

  592. you know

  593. we hear a lot

  594. of that today

  595. but there's a lot

  596. of confusion

  597. amongst God's

  598. people even

  599. on this

  600. of things

  601. people say

  602. and do

  603. but I want

  604. you to know

  605. God's word

  606. tells you

  607. very clearly

  608. that it ought

  609. to be in

  610. the Lord's house

  611. because if you

  612. start dispersing

  613. it out

  614. you know

  615. what you're

  616. saying

  617. God's house

  618. isn't important

  619. that's not

  620. what God

  621. told me

  622. your tithes

  623. and offerings

  624. and special

  625. giving

  626. to missionaries

  627. needs to be

  628. directed through

  629. the local

  630. church

  631. that's why

  632. not because

  633. the preacher

  634. said so

  635. because God

  636. said so

  637. it's what God

  638. has established

  639. that we need

  640. to follow

  641. we need to

  642. follow what

  643. God has

  644. done

  645. to corporately

  646. together

  647. to direct

  648. the use

  649. of those

  650. funds

  651. for the

  652. Lord

  653. but we

  654. find here

  655. that giving

  656. is assumed

  657. but secondly

  658. your giving

  659. is assessed

  660. God

  661. assesses

  662. your giving

  663. you know

  664. often times

  665. we fail

  666. to realize

  667. that

  668. that God

  669. gives an

  670. assessment

  671. of somebody's

  672. giving

  673. what's he

  674. doing here

  675. he's assessing

  676. what people

  677. gave

  678. he's comparing

  679. what this

  680. widow gave

  681. to others

  682. that were

  683. rich

  684. walking by

  685. and I

  686. imagine

  687. there was

  688. more than

  689. just rich

  690. people

  691. walking by

  692. there was

  693. people of

  694. all different

  695. ranks of

  696. life

  697. but as the

  698. rich would

  699. walk by

  700. and they

  701. would give

  702. their offering

  703. just like

  704. we talked

  705. about with

  706. that toll

  707. booth bucket

  708. the more

  709. coins you

  710. throw in

  711. there the

  712. louder it

  713. gets

  714. so it

  715. wouldn't

  716. have been

  717. hard to

  718. know

  719. hey

  720. this

  721. oh that

  722. person

  723. gave a

  724. lot

  725. but you

  726. can imagine

  727. the widow

  728. walked by

  729. and throws

  730. a couple

  731. of small

  732. coins in

  733. there

  734. and you

  735. hear

  736. it didn't

  737. take a

  738. rocket scientist

  739. for him to

  740. figure out

  741. who gave

  742. more

  743. in quantity

  744. because that

  745. would have

  746. been obvious

  747. and some

  748. people would

  749. use this

  750. as a show

  751. to say

  752. I imagine

  753. some of them

  754. probably went

  755. down you

  756. know it's

  757. kind of like

  758. when we

  759. had VBS

  760. and we had

  761. the penny

  762. offering you

  763. know and

  764. everybody

  765. would bring

  766. up their

  767. bucket of

  768. pennies and

  769. they'd

  770. pour them

  771. in

  772. you know

  773. they want

  774. all the

  775. noise to

  776. be made

  777. especially

  778. the little

  779. guys

  780. you know

  781. they would

  782. come up

  783. and they

  784. would try

  785. to make

  786. the biggest

  787. noise

  788. possible

  789. or when

  790. we were

  791. taking up

  792. an offering

  793. for parish

  794. you know

  795. people would

  796. send their

  797. little kids

  798. up and the

  799. little kids

  800. would be

  801. like

  802. yeah

  803. well they

  804. do that

  805. noise

  806. would assess

  807. a quantity

  808. maybe not

  809. exact but it

  810. would give

  811. you an idea

  812. of what was

  813. being put

  814. in

  815. because of

  816. the noise

  817. that was

  818. being

  819. generated

  820. and we

  821. and we

  822. find here

  823. Jesus is

  824. assessing

  825. this and

  826. Jesus calls

  827. his disciples

  828. attention to

  829. a certain

  830. widow

  831. that had

  832. placed an

  833. offering

  834. in the box

  835. you know as

  836. Jesus called

  837. them over I

  838. imagine they

  839. anticipated Jesus

  840. to point out

  841. somebody that

  842. gave a lot

  843. you say how

  844. do you know

  845. that because

  846. Jesus number

  847. one does a

  848. contrast to it

  849. number two

  850. our human

  851. nature is to

  852. pay more

  853. attention to

  854. the a lot

  855. than we do

  856. the little

  857. that's just

  858. our human

  859. nature

  860. it's kind of

  861. like how we're

  862. pre-wired

  863. you know we

  864. have that

  865. mindset in

  866. our mind

  867. and we

  868. assess things

  869. by that

  870. means

  871. but instead

  872. Jesus directs

  873. them to a

  874. humble poor

  875. widow

  876. that was

  877. passing by

  878. you know we

  879. don't know but

  880. earlier in this

  881. passage it

  882. talks about

  883. you know the

  884. scribes and

  885. Pharisees

  886. devouring

  887. widows houses

  888. maybe she was

  889. one of those

  890. widows we

  891. don't know

  892. but we do

  893. know she

  894. didn't have

  895. anything

  896. all she had

  897. left

  898. we find just

  899. all the things

  900. she had to

  901. move forward

  902. we know that

  903. she was poor

  904. and didn't

  905. use it for an

  906. excuse though

  907. not to honor

  908. the Lord

  909. you know the

  910. Bible says she

  911. only had two

  912. mites or a

  913. farthing which

  914. this word

  915. farthing is just

  916. a you might say

  917. it's a

  918. understanding

  919. in a different

  920. currency

  921. a farthing

  922. is a

  923. Roman

  924. coin

  925. and so

  926. to a Roman

  927. audience

  928. because remember

  929. Mark was

  930. written to a

  931. Greek and

  932. Roman audience

  933. in other words

  934. a mite was a

  935. Jewish

  936. measurement

  937. and a farthing

  938. would have been a

  939. Roman and

  940. Greek measurement

  941. in other words

  942. so when they

  943. read this

  944. if it was

  945. written to them

  946. oh okay

  947. it's been

  948. converted for

  949. me

  950. you know

  951. how you

  952. convert currency

  953. from one

  954. currency to

  955. another

  956. that's basically

  957. what Mark

  958. did here for

  959. us

  960. is he converted

  961. the currency

  962. so we have

  963. something to

  964. understand

  965. because in

  966. other words

  967. what are two

  968. mites

  969. but to his

  970. audience they

  971. understood that

  972. hey this is

  973. not much

  974. this is a

  975. little bit of

  976. nothing

  977. we find here

  978. this little bit

  979. of nothing

  980. that she gives

  981. look down at

  982. verse 43 in

  983. our text

  984. it says he

  985. called unto him

  986. his disciples

  987. and saith unto

  988. them

  989. verily I say

  990. unto you that

  991. this poor widow

  992. hath cast more

  993. in than all

  994. they which have

  995. cast into the

  996. treasury

  997. I want you to

  998. think about

  999. the assessment

  1000. of that statement

  1001. think about the

  1002. assessment of that

  1003. statement

  1004. all they that

  1005. gave

  1006. what's Jesus

  1007. saying he's not

  1008. comparing her just

  1009. to one person

  1010. he's comparing

  1011. what this lady

  1012. gave to

  1013. multitudes of

  1014. people

  1015. that's quite an

  1016. assessment

  1017. and the

  1018. assessment he

  1019. attaches to it

  1020. is important

  1021. because he

  1022. says that she

  1023. cast more

  1024. in these

  1025. two coins

  1026. that went

  1027. tink tink

  1028. tink tink

  1029. tink

  1030. was more

  1031. in the eyes

  1032. of Jesus

  1033. than all those

  1034. noisemakers

  1035. that dumped in

  1036. bags of coins

  1037. one after

  1038. another

  1039. now I want

  1040. you to

  1041. understand

  1042. something

  1043. very important

  1044. here

  1045. Jesus is not

  1046. speaking

  1047. necessarily

  1048. negative

  1049. of the

  1050. others

  1051. he's using

  1052. it as an

  1053. illustration

  1054. to say

  1055. hey these

  1056. gave

  1057. but we're

  1058. going to

  1059. find here

  1060. he says

  1061. they gave

  1062. out of

  1063. their

  1064. abundance

  1065. but this

  1066. widow

  1067. did something

  1068. of note

  1069. she gave

  1070. all

  1071. that she

  1072. had

  1073. the others

  1074. did not

  1075. give all

  1076. doesn't mean

  1077. they didn't

  1078. give correctly

  1079. because

  1080. Jesus is

  1081. assessing

  1082. this certain

  1083. individual

  1084. in contrast

  1085. to the

  1086. others

  1087. and what

  1088. he reveals

  1089. to us

  1090. is important

  1091. that Jesus

  1092. cares about

  1093. what we

  1094. give

  1095. now I can

  1096. just always

  1097. like to try

  1098. to picture

  1099. how the

  1100. disciples

  1101. would have

  1102. been sitting

  1103. there

  1104. you know

  1105. just using

  1106. human nature

  1107. and I

  1108. imagine

  1109. they were

  1110. sitting there

  1111. with a

  1112. pretty puzzled

  1113. look on

  1114. their face

  1115. when Jesus

  1116. made that

  1117. statement

  1118. how did

  1119. she give

  1120. more than

  1121. all these

  1122. others

  1123. how do we

  1124. know the

  1125. disciples

  1126. probably did

  1127. that

  1128. because

  1129. they're

  1130. people

  1131. just like

  1132. you and

  1133. me

  1134. if somebody

  1135. made that

  1136. statement

  1137. even Jesus

  1138. you'd be

  1139. looking like

  1140. okay let's

  1141. make the

  1142. connection

  1143. here

  1144. this is

  1145. not connecting

  1146. in my

  1147. mind

  1148. this is

  1149. not how

  1150. we put

  1151. those things

  1152. normally

  1153. together

  1154. because they

  1155. heard all

  1156. the loud

  1157. noises

  1158. of the

  1159. rich

  1160. that had

  1161. just

  1162. gave their

  1163. coins

  1164. and they

  1165. say

  1166. Jesus

  1167. here is

  1168. pointing out

  1169. this little

  1170. widow

  1171. that said

  1172. that put

  1173. in just

  1174. a little

  1175. bit

  1176. that she

  1177. gave

  1178. more

  1179. but I

  1180. want you

  1181. to see

  1182. here

  1183. it's

  1184. more

  1185. not

  1186. because

  1187. of the

  1188. quantity

  1189. but because

  1190. of the

  1191. proportion

  1192. the

  1193. proportion

  1194. that far

  1195. exceeded

  1196. what the

  1197. others

  1198. gave

  1199. now I

  1200. think it's

  1201. pretty easy

  1202. for us to

  1203. understand

  1204. that

  1205. comparison

  1206. because

  1207. to give

  1208. a little

  1209. or some

  1210. of what

  1211. you possess

  1212. is a lot

  1213. different than

  1214. giving all

  1215. that you

  1216. possess

  1217. that's a

  1218. big

  1219. contrast

  1220. giving all

  1221. that you

  1222. possess

  1223. now it's

  1224. important here

  1225. because God's

  1226. expectation of

  1227. giving is

  1228. tied to being

  1229. proportional

  1230. it's not a

  1231. dollar amount

  1232. but it's a

  1233. percentage

  1234. we find that

  1235. throughout the

  1236. scripture the

  1237. same proportion

  1238. is true

  1239. it talks about

  1240. the tithe

  1241. that 10%

  1242. that standard

  1243. that we see

  1244. throughout the

  1245. word of God

  1246. you know we

  1247. know we know

  1248. that we're

  1249. not directly

  1250. commanded to

  1251. tithe but I

  1252. want you to

  1253. understand that

  1254. as a Christian

  1255. you ought to

  1256. not from

  1257. commandment but

  1258. out of love

  1259. because Jesus

  1260. never spoke

  1261. down the

  1262. tithe he

  1263. didn't say it

  1264. wasn't honorable

  1265. to do so

  1266. his only

  1267. assessment of

  1268. giving and

  1269. tithing was

  1270. the fact of

  1271. how people

  1272. did it

  1273. the heart

  1274. attached to

  1275. it

  1276. you know look

  1277. over into

  1278. Matthew chapter

    Matthew 23 chapter mention

  1279. 23 for a

  1280. moment

  1281. Matthew chapter

    Matthew 23 chapter mention

  1282. 23 in

  1283. verse 23

  1284. we say the

  1285. word of God

  1286. tells us this

  1287. he says woe

  1288. unto you

  1289. scribes and

  1290. Pharisees

  1291. hypocrites

  1292. for you pay

  1293. tithe of

  1294. mint and

  1295. and these

  1296. and cumin

  1297. and have

  1298. admitted the

  1299. weightier matters

  1300. of the law

  1301. judgment

  1302. mercy and

  1303. faith

  1304. now notice

  1305. this these

  1306. ought ye to

  1307. have done

  1308. and not to

  1309. leave the

  1310. other undone

  1311. in other

  1312. words Jesus

  1313. says you

  1314. were right

  1315. to give

  1316. but you

  1317. also need to

  1318. pay attention

  1319. to the other

  1320. things associated

  1321. with your

  1322. heart

  1323. because you

  1324. can't buy

  1325. off God

  1326. you know

  1327. some people

  1328. try to buy

  1329. God

  1330. you know

  1331. they say

  1332. well if I

  1333. just give

  1334. enough you

  1335. know they

  1336. have this

  1337. mindset that

  1338. they'll

  1339. gotta overlook

  1340. things I

  1341. want you

  1342. understand

  1343. there's

  1344. nothing you

  1345. can give

  1346. to gain

  1347. favor with

  1348. God

  1349. no amount

  1350. of money

  1351. no amount

  1352. of labor

  1353. those are

  1354. things we

  1355. ought to do

  1356. because we

  1357. love God

  1358. because he

  1359. already loved

  1360. us

  1361. we ought to

  1362. desire to

  1363. serve him

  1364. and invest

  1365. in the things

  1366. of God

  1367. Jesus here

  1368. moves it up

  1369. a notch

  1370. we know

  1371. that the

  1372. poor widow

  1373. that gave

  1374. all that

  1375. she had

  1376. all her

  1377. substance

  1378. so I want

  1379. you to

  1380. understand

  1381. your giving

  1382. is assumed

  1383. and it's

  1384. assessed

  1385. but I

  1386. also want

  1387. you to

  1388. understand

  1389. there's

  1390. an aim

  1391. a motive

  1392. behind

  1393. your giving

  1394. that Jesus

  1395. brings forth

  1396. here

  1397. because the

  1398. motive

  1399. the why

  1400. you do

  1401. something

  1402. is just

  1403. as critical

  1404. as the

  1405. what you

  1406. do

  1407. because we

  1408. find that

  1409. people will

  1410. do things

  1411. not for

  1412. somebody else

  1413. even if it

  1414. benefits

  1415. somebody else

  1416. but they

  1417. do it to

  1418. try to

  1419. appease

  1420. themselves

  1421. or appease

  1422. others

  1423. or to

  1424. gain

  1425. favor

  1426. they

  1427. might be

  1428. doing the

  1429. right thing

  1430. but the

  1431. motive

  1432. is wrong

  1433. why you

  1434. do

  1435. something

  1436. the motive

  1437. behind what

  1438. we do

  1439. for the

  1440. Lord

  1441. is just

  1442. as important

  1443. as the

  1444. what

  1445. I want

  1446. you to

  1447. understand

  1448. the what

  1449. is important

  1450. but the

  1451. motive

  1452. or the

  1453. aim

  1454. of it

  1455. is important

  1456. also

  1457. they correlate

  1458. equally

  1459. because you

  1460. can do

  1461. the right

  1462. thing

  1463. for the

  1464. wrong

  1465. reason

  1466. because

  1467. people do

  1468. that all

  1469. the time

  1470. trying to

  1471. manipulate

  1472. people

  1473. well look

  1474. what I

  1475. did

  1476. you know

  1477. they try

  1478. to gain

  1479. advantage

  1480. or they

  1481. try to

  1482. manipulate

  1483. or to

  1484. do things

  1485. even within

  1486. relationships

  1487. that way

  1488. they give

  1489. not because

  1490. they love

  1491. because they

  1492. want to

  1493. gain

  1494. you know

  1495. they're

  1496. trying to

  1497. manipulate

  1498. the situation

  1499. not to be

  1500. because

  1501. we love

  1502. the Lord

  1503. but when

  1504. we get

  1505. that motive

  1506. behind what

  1507. we give

  1508. we find

  1509. some motives

  1510. that ought

  1511. to be

  1512. associated

  1513. with our

  1514. giving

  1515. here in

  1516. scripture

  1517. and I

  1518. think we

  1519. can associate

  1520. them with

  1521. this widow

  1522. that came

  1523. because we

  1524. see it

  1525. in her

  1526. actions

  1527. we see

  1528. it in

  1529. what she

  1530. did

  1531. because the

  1532. first thing

  1533. we need to

  1534. do is to

  1535. understand that

  1536. we should

  1537. give

  1538. thankfully

  1539. you know

  1540. getting into

  1541. November here

  1542. we're coming up

  1543. on Thanksgiving

  1544. you know

  1545. most time

  1546. we think of

  1547. thankfulness

  1548. as just a

  1549. verbal thing

  1550. but if you

  1551. study throughout

  1552. the scripture

  1553. giving is

  1554. associated with

  1555. thankfulness

  1556. throughout the

  1557. Old Testament

  1558. you'll see

  1559. this principle

  1560. played out

  1561. Leviticus 22

  1562. 29

  1563. tells us

  1564. this

  1565. it says

  1566. and when

  1567. ye

  1568. shall

  1569. excuse me

  1570. and when

  1571. ye will

  1572. offer a

  1573. sacrifice

  1574. of thanksgiving

  1575. unto the

  1576. Lord

  1577. offer it

  1578. at your

  1579. own

  1580. will

  1581. the context

  1582. of this

  1583. verse

  1584. is a

  1585. literal

  1586. giving

  1587. of a

  1588. sacrifice

  1589. not just

  1590. verbiage

  1591. but there's

  1592. an actual

  1593. giving

  1594. attached

  1595. to it

  1596. now

  1597. verbally

  1598. praising

  1599. the

  1600. Lord

  1601. is one

  1602. way

  1603. of

  1604. thanking

  1605. him

  1606. and

  1607. honoring

  1608. him

  1609. but also

  1610. in what

  1611. we give

  1612. because it

  1613. says I

  1614. appreciate

  1615. what you

  1616. have done

  1617. for me

  1618. as a

  1619. believer

  1620. we ought

  1621. to be

  1622. appreciative

  1623. of what

  1624. God

  1625. has done

  1626. for us

  1627. what's he

  1628. done

  1629. he's

  1630. given

  1631. a free

  1632. gift

  1633. of salvation

  1634. to all

  1635. those

  1636. who will

  1637. call upon

  1638. him

  1639. I want

  1640. you to

  1641. understand

  1642. the word

  1643. free

  1644. doesn't

  1645. mean

  1646. it

  1647. didn't

  1648. cost

  1649. something

  1650. you know

  1651. there's a

  1652. great

  1653. misconception

  1654. today

  1655. that

  1656. oh

  1657. it's

  1658. free

  1659. you know

  1660. it doesn't

  1661. cost

  1662. anything

  1663. if it's

  1664. free

  1665. to you

  1666. it costs

  1667. somebody

  1668. else

  1669. something

  1670. you never

  1671. get anything

  1672. for free

  1673. the only

  1674. reason you

  1675. might receive

  1676. it at no

  1677. cost

  1678. is because

  1679. somebody else

  1680. already paid

  1681. for it

  1682. we get

  1683. salvation

  1684. at no

  1685. cost

  1686. because

  1687. Jesus

  1688. Christ

  1689. paid

  1690. for it

  1691. he paid

  1692. the whole

  1693. bill

  1694. he took

  1695. the tab

  1696. and said

  1697. it's

  1698. on me

  1699. he said

  1700. I'm

  1701. the one

  1702. you know

  1703. I want

  1704. you to

  1705. understand

  1706. this

  1707. thankfulness

  1708. a thankful

  1709. heart

  1710. is a

  1711. giving

  1712. heart

  1713. I believe

  1714. that day

  1715. we can

  1716. see that

  1717. widow

  1718. was

  1719. thankful

  1720. for who

  1721. God

  1722. is

  1723. and what

  1724. he had

  1725. done

  1726. by the

  1727. amount

  1728. and the

  1729. willingness

  1730. to give

  1731. what she

  1732. had

  1733. you know

  1734. look over

  1735. to Psalm

  1736. 116

  1737. Psalm

  1738. 116

  1739. in verse

  1740. 7

  1741. we find

  1742. over here

  1743. it says

  1744. I will

  1745. offer

  1746. to thee

  1747. the sacrifice

  1748. of thanksgiving

  1749. and will

  1750. call upon

  1751. the name

  1752. of the

  1753. Lord

  1754. you know

  1755. we can

  1756. be thankful

  1757. because

  1758. of what

  1759. God

  1760. has done

  1761. we can

  1762. be thankful

  1763. he's given

  1764. us a

  1765. salvation

  1766. that's

  1767. full

  1768. and free

  1769. at salvation

  1770. you get

  1771. everything

  1772. he doesn't

  1773. leave anything

  1774. out

  1775. to all

  1776. those who

  1777. will call

  1778. upon him

  1779. I want

  1780. you to

  1781. see

  1782. this

  1783. morning

  1784. the importance

  1785. of this

  1786. that the

  1787. giving

  1788. because of

  1789. what he

  1790. did

  1791. for you

  1792. and I

  1793. it should

  1794. cause us

  1795. to not

  1796. give out

  1797. of application

  1798. but to

  1799. and to

  1800. but to

  1801. give

  1802. thankfully

  1803. but also

  1804. when we're

  1805. giving

  1806. thankfully

  1807. we find

  1808. we ought

  1809. to be

  1810. cheerful

  1811. about our

  1812. giving

  1813. you know

  1814. cheerfulness

  1815. is a

  1816. spirit

  1817. in which

  1818. you give

  1819. it also

  1820. you know

  1821. God

  1822. loves

  1823. a cheerful

  1824. giver

  1825. because I

  1826. want you

  1827. to understand

  1828. people can

  1829. give things

  1830. multiple

  1831. ways

  1832. you know

  1833. people give

  1834. out of guilt

  1835. and I

  1836. want you

  1837. to understand

  1838. when we're

  1839. talking about

  1840. money this

  1841. morning

  1842. I'm not

  1843. trying to

  1844. guilt you

  1845. into anything

  1846. because your

  1847. giving is

  1848. between you

  1849. and the

  1850. Lord and

  1851. God says

  1852. he assesses

  1853. it

  1854. it's not

  1855. the preacher's

  1856. job to

  1857. assess your

  1858. giving

  1859. that's

  1860. God's

  1861. job

  1862. you know

  1863. why

  1864. because God

  1865. sees your

  1866. heart

  1867. we can be

  1868. led astray

  1869. by if we

  1870. allow our

  1871. observation of

  1872. what somebody

  1873. gives

  1874. because giving

  1875. doesn't gain

  1876. favor with

  1877. God

  1878. we ought to

  1879. be giving

  1880. because we

  1881. love God

  1882. because we're

  1883. thankful for

  1884. what he's

  1885. done

  1886. we ought to

  1887. do it

  1888. cheerfully

  1889. to understand

  1890. there's a

  1891. willingness

  1892. behind it

  1893. 2nd Corinthians

  1894. chapter 9

  1895. in verse 7

  1896. says every man

  1897. according as he

  1898. purposes in his

  1899. heart so let

  1900. him give not

  1901. grudgingly nor

  1902. of necessity

  1903. for God

  1904. loveth a

  1905. cheerful giver

  1906. you know

  1907. sometimes

  1908. we can give

  1909. with the wrong

  1910. attitude

  1911. well I better

  1912. do this

  1913. or I need

  1914. to do this

  1915. but you know

  1916. ultimately God

  1917. says he wants

  1918. somebody that

  1919. says I get

  1920. to do this

  1921. that's a

  1922. cheerful giver

  1923. one that says

  1924. I love God

  1925. because of what

  1926. he has done

  1927. for me

  1928. and I think

  1929. he's worthy

  1930. of even more

  1931. than what I'm

  1932. able to give

  1933. because we

  1934. cannot give

  1935. to supplement

  1936. what he's

  1937. already given

  1938. to us

  1939. we cannot

  1940. supplement that

  1941. and to give

  1942. more for that

  1943. it's a difference

  1944. between obligation

  1945. to give

  1946. and the desire

  1947. to give

  1948. when it delights

  1949. our hearts

  1950. to give to the

  1951. Lord

  1952. it's no longer

  1953. a burden

  1954. to give

  1955. but a blessing

  1956. to give

  1957. a cheerful giver

  1958. looks at giving

  1959. as an opportunity

  1960. as a blessing

  1961. because why is it

  1962. a blessing

  1963. because you can

  1964. be thankful

  1965. that all the

  1966. substance that God

  1967. has given to you

  1968. you have something

  1969. to give

  1970. because what we

  1971. have is given

  1972. to us of the

  1973. Lord

  1974. we need to

  1975. understand the

  1976. importance of it

  1977. a thankful heart

  1978. makes a cheerful

  1979. giver

  1980. yet Jesus

  1981. also draws

  1982. the disciples

  1983. attention to the

  1984. proportion

  1985. that she gave

  1986. she gave

  1987. liberally

  1988. we should give

  1989. liberally

  1990. we ought to be

  1991. willing to give

  1992. of what we have

  1993. and not be stingy

  1994. especially when it

  1995. comes to the

  1996. Lord's work

  1997. and his people

  1998. consider that

  1999. God says

  2000. that we can

  2001. expect a blessing

  2002. proportional

  2003. to our giving

  2004. you know

  2005. Luke chapter 6

    Luke 6 chapter mention

  2006. look at verse 38

  2007. Luke 6 38

  2008. says this

  2009. give and it

  2010. shall be given

  2011. unto you

  2012. good measure

  2013. pressed down

  2014. shaken together

  2015. and running over

  2016. shall men

  2017. give into your

  2018. bosom

  2019. for with the

  2020. same measure

  2021. that ye meet

  2022. with all

  2023. it shall be

  2024. measured to you

  2025. again

  2026. you know

  2027. I want you

  2028. to understand

  2029. it's basically

  2030. this

  2031. don't be cheap

  2032. there's a difference

  2033. between being frugal

  2034. and being cheap

  2035. frugal is wise use

  2036. cheap just says

  2037. I want to keep it

  2038. but there's a proportion

  2039. she gave liberally

  2040. and I want you

  2041. to understand

  2042. that the word

  2043. today liberal

  2044. is tied to

  2045. a different dynamic

  2046. often times we hear

  2047. the word liberal

  2048. today

  2049. liberals today

  2050. think I want to

  2051. spend somebody else's

  2052. money for good

  2053. things

  2054. Bible says

  2055. that if you're

  2056. a liberal person

  2057. you take what you

  2058. have of your resource

  2059. and willingly give it

  2060. for somebody else

  2061. it's not taken

  2062. and given

  2063. and given

  2064. to somebody

  2065. else

  2066. a true

  2067. liberal heart

  2068. is of that

  2069. it's saying

  2070. I want to give

  2071. freely

  2072. for those things

  2073. we ought to be

  2074. liberal with what

  2075. we possess

  2076. and frugal with

  2077. what others have

  2078. entrusted to us

  2079. because what you

  2080. have is what you

  2081. have to give

  2082. you cannot give

  2083. honestly what

  2084. somebody else

  2085. possesses

  2086. you have to give

  2087. what you possess

  2088. what you have

  2089. that proportion

  2090. that's the reason

  2091. Jesus made it

  2092. clear that this

  2093. widow gave

  2094. more than all

  2095. those

  2096. because she gave

  2097. all

  2098. she gave it

  2099. with a thankful

  2100. and cheerful

  2101. she was a liberal

  2102. giver

  2103. it moves us

  2104. to the next

  2105. dynamic

  2106. that we should

  2107. be sacrificial

  2108. there's a

  2109. sacrificial element

  2110. because to give

  2111. a sacrifice

  2112. unto the Lord

  2113. you know David

  2114. in 2 Samuel

  2115. makes it very

  2116. clear that

  2117. you can't give

  2118. an offering

  2119. unto the Lord

  2120. that doesn't

  2121. cost you

  2122. something

  2123. we know that

  2124. today it's

  2125. easier to give

  2126. somebody else's

  2127. money than

  2128. your own

  2129. it's easier to

  2130. say somebody

  2131. else ought to

  2132. give their

  2133. time than

  2134. my time

  2135. somebody else

  2136. ought to do

  2137. that

  2138. but you know

  2139. what sacrificial

  2140. giver is the

  2141. one that says

  2142. that merits

  2143. my time

  2144. because God's

  2145. measuring it

  2146. how we use

  2147. our time

  2148. our money

  2149. our resources

  2150. Jesus here

  2151. directly points

  2152. out the

  2153. sacrifice

  2154. of the

  2155. widow's

  2156. gift

  2157. giving not

  2158. from her

  2159. abundance

  2160. but of

  2161. her need

  2162. others there

  2163. gave from

  2164. their abundance

  2165. I want you

  2166. understand

  2167. I believe

  2168. there was

  2169. probably

  2170. many there

  2171. that day

  2172. that gave

  2173. cheerfully

  2174. they gave

  2175. liberally

  2176. they gave

  2177. thankfully

  2178. but Jesus

  2179. says they

  2180. gave of

  2181. their abundance

  2182. in other words

  2183. what they

  2184. put in

  2185. wasn't

  2186. directly

  2187. impacting

  2188. what went

  2189. on at

  2190. home

  2191. in other

  2192. words they

  2193. had enough

  2194. resource

  2195. left over

  2196. everything was

  2197. taken care

  2198. of

  2199. it's not

  2200. that their

  2201. heart wasn't

  2202. right

  2203. that's not

  2204. what God

  2205. is saying

  2206. that's not

  2207. what Jesus

  2208. is pointing

  2209. out

  2210. he's pointing

  2211. out the

  2212. sacrificial

  2213. element to

  2214. say it's

  2215. going to

  2216. cost me

  2217. something to

  2218. give to

  2219. the Lord

  2220. she gave

  2221. from her

  2222. need her

  2223. aim and

  2224. giving was

  2225. to honor

  2226. the Lord

  2227. even though

  2228. she didn't

  2229. have much

  2230. to give

  2231. you know

  2232. often times

  2233. people think

  2234. if I start

  2235. I'll start

  2236. giving when I

  2237. have more

  2238. I'll give you

  2239. a little clue

  2240. you're never

  2241. going to have

  2242. enough to

  2243. start giving

  2244. you will never

  2245. have enough

  2246. to start

  2247. giving

  2248. because you'll

  2249. never get to

  2250. where you

  2251. think you

  2252. have enough

  2253. because when

  2254. you do have

  2255. extra it seems

  2256. like it's too

  2257. much to give

  2258. often times

  2259. we are caught

  2260. in this

  2261. and then the

  2262. best thing

  2263. to do is to

  2264. give everything

  2265. you have

  2266. to the

  2267. Lord

  2268. because he

  2269. already owns

  2270. it all

  2271. and then a

  2272. little 10%

  2273. won't matter

  2274. so much

  2275. because what

  2276. you have

  2277. is from the

  2278. Lord anyways

  2279. what God

  2280. has blessed

  2281. you

  2282. if you look

  2283. at it

  2284. hey Lord

  2285. I'm a steward

  2286. of what you've

  2287. given to me

  2288. and how I ought

  2289. to use it

  2290. you know

  2291. it's not so hard

  2292. to give it back

  2293. to God

  2294. if you realize

  2295. it's already

  2296. his

  2297. it already

  2298. belongs to

  2299. him

  2300. you know

  2301. Psalm 107

    Psalms 107:22

  2302. verse 22

  2303. tells us this

  2304. and let them

  2305. sacrifice

  2306. the sacrifices

  2307. of thanksgiving

  2308. and declare

  2309. his works

  2310. with rejoicing

  2311. now I want you

  2312. to see here

  2313. that Jesus

  2314. is pointing out

  2315. the reality

  2316. of the assessment

  2317. of your giving

  2318. how we ought

  2319. to measure

  2320. ourselves

  2321. against his

  2322. assessment

  2323. we find

  2324. the reality

  2325. is tied

  2326. to our heart

  2327. this widow

  2328. gave

  2329. because she

  2330. trusted

  2331. and honored

  2332. God

  2333. she wanted

  2334. to do

  2335. with what

  2336. she had

  2337. you know

  2338. this morning

  2339. your aim

  2340. in giving

  2341. ought to be

  2342. that of one

  2343. that gives

  2344. because of what

  2345. the Lord

  2346. has given

  2347. you

  2348. and it

  2349. starts with

  2350. the fact

  2351. that he's

  2352. offered

  2353. to give

  2354. you salvation

  2355. he's offered

  2356. to forgive

  2357. you of your

  2358. sin

  2359. because he

  2360. paid the

  2361. price

  2362. for everything

  2363. the question

  2364. is what

  2365. will you do

  2366. with it

  2367. because he's

  2368. offered it

  2369. to you

  2370. and everybody

  2371. has a choice

  2372. with it

  2373. hopefully

  2374. today

  2375. there's been

  2376. a time

  2377. and a place

  2378. when you

  2379. have called

  2380. upon the

  2381. Lord

  2382. saying I

  2383. recognize

  2384. what you

  2385. did

  2386. and I

  2387. want to

  2388. accept

  2389. what you

  2390. paid

  2391. I want

  2392. you to

  2393. take your

  2394. payment

  2395. and put

  2396. it to my

  2397. account

  2398. because I

  2399. cannot pay

  2400. it

  2401. that's

  2402. calling upon

  2403. him

  2404. recognizing

  2405. who he

  2406. is

  2407. he has

  2408. given

  2409. freely

  2410. everything

  2411. you need

  2412. to be

  2413. saved

  2414. taking

  2415. your sin

  2416. and paying

  2417. its price

  2418. and cleansing

  2419. all those

  2420. who call

  2421. upon him

  2422. you know

  2423. that ought to

  2424. change our

  2425. perspective

  2426. about giving

  2427. it ought to

  2428. change our

  2429. perspective

  2430. of what

  2431. God has

  2432. given to

  2433. us

  2434. because just

  2435. like this

  2436. widow

  2437. Jesus

  2438. gave

  2439. everything

  2440. for you

  2441. he came

  2442. and he

  2443. suffered

  2444. and died

  2445. for your

  2446. sin

  2447. and mine

  2448. what a

  2449. powerful

  2450. picture

  2451. we see

  2452. here this

  2453. morning

  2454. because

  2455. Jesus

  2456. has a

  2457. perspective

  2458. on you

  2459. today

  2460. if Jesus

  2461. was giving

  2462. a written

  2463. assessment

  2464. of you

  2465. what would

  2466. it say

  2467. that's a

  2468. question you

  2469. have to

  2470. answer

  2471. between

  2472. you

  2473. and

  2474. the

  2475. Lord

  2476. what's

  2477. that

  2478. assessment

  2479. between

  2480. you

  2481. and

  2482. him

  2483. as

  2484. heads

  2485. are

  2486. bowed

  2487. and

  2488. eyes

  2489. are

  2490. closed

  2491. this

  2492. morning

  2493. what about

  2494. you

  2495. today

  2496. as the

  2497. Lord

  2498. spoke

  2499. to you

  2500. about

  2501. some

  2502. needs

  2503. maybe

  2504. it's

  2505. just

  2506. in

  2507. your

  2508. attitude

  2509. about

  2510. using

  2511. of your

  2512. resources

  2513. and your

  2514. time

  2515. and your

  2516. energies

  2517. towards

  2518. the things

  2519. of God

  2520. because of

  2521. what he's

  2522. done

  2523. for you

  2524. maybe

  2525. to get

  2526. with the

  2527. Lord

  2528. and say

  2529. I need

  2530. a change

  2531. of attitude

  2532. Lord

  2533. I want

  2534. you to

  2535. look at

  2536. me

  2537. and say

  2538. there's

  2539. a right

  2540. assessment

  2541. that I'm

  2542. thankful

  2543. and I'm

  2544. cheerful

  2545. and I'm

  2546. willing to

  2547. give

  2548. not because

  2549. to gain

  2550. favor but

  2551. because of

  2552. what you've

  2553. already done

  2554. for me

  2555. maybe you're

  2556. here today

  2557. and don't

  2558. know for

  2559. sure

  2560. where you

  2561. stand with

  2562. God

  2563. I invite

  2564. you to

  2565. come

  2566. and I

  2567. have somebody

  2568. show you

  2569. from God's

  2570. word how

  2571. you can

  2572. know

  2573. where you

  2574. stand with

  2575. him

  2576. that you

  2577. might be

  2578. right with

  2579. him

  2580. that you

  2581. might have

  2582. his free

  2583. gift of

  2584. salvation

  2585. what about

  2586. you

  2587. today

  2588. heavenly

  2589. fathers

  2590. we have

  2591. an opportunity

  2592. to respond

  2593. here this

  2594. morning

  2595. Lord I

  2596. pray that you

  2597. have your

  2598. hand upon

  2599. hearts here

  2600. today your

  2601. spirit be

  2602. working

  2603. Lord you

  2604. know each

  2605. one you

  2606. know where

  2607. each one

  2608. stands

  2609. Lord there's

  2610. no hiding

  2611. from your

  2612. observation

  2613. Lord I

  2614. pray that you

  2615. just would

  2616. work mightily

  2617. upon your

  2618. people if

  2619. there's one

  2620. here today

  2621. that is not

  2622. your child

  2623. because they

  2624. haven't chosen

  2625. to call upon

  2626. you

  2627. accept you

  2628. by faith

  2629. and the

  2630. wonderful

  2631. gift that

  2632. you've given

  2633. to us

  2634. Lord I

  2635. pray today

  2636. would be

  2637. the day

  2638. Lord help

  2639. us not to

  2640. depart from

  2641. here the

  2642. way we

  2643. came in

  2644. Lord we

  2645. might have

  2646. a right

  2647. spirit and

  2648. a right

  2649. perspective

  2650. your

  2651. perspective

  2652. of us

  2653. Lord we

  2654. ask it all

  2655. in your

  2656. precious name

  2657. as heads

  2658. are bowed

  2659. and eyes

  2660. are closed

  2661. what about

  2662. you

  2663. today is

  2664. a piano