12+1 Core Values: Generosity Branded | Pr Yvonne Chong

You're listening to a message to go from X Church.

We hope this message will light up your day.

So today, you know, those of you who came in,

I'm going to go into our word right now. And

we're going to close this series of our 12 plus

1 value with this plus 1 value called Generosity Branded. And.

It is taken from Acts chapter 2 verse 45. So

Acts 2:45

let's turn to Acts chapter 2 verse 45 and we

Acts 2:45

will all read it together. 大家我们可以一起来去阅读。 Acts chapter 2 verse 45.

Acts 2:45

If you are there, you can say Amen. 翻到了可以说Amen. Yeah. Okay,

in 1, 2 and 3. and sold their possessions and

goods and divided them among all as anyone had need.

中文我们一起读 并且卖了田产家业 照个人所需用的分给个人 So who were all these people who

sold their possessions? 借人来去卖他们的自己的家产还有田产到底是谁呢? We will go back one verse

before that. 我们再退去前面一个经文 And what do you notice there? Now

all who believe were together. And they had all things

in common. So, you know, I.

You know, as I was preparing this, you know, just

being generosity branded itself. I was reminded of the disciples or,

you know, the church in those days. And, you know,

one thing that was very clear about them that the

people around them could differentiate that, hey, you know, these

people are the followers of Jesus. You know, they didn't have, perhaps,

you know, they didn't look like, you know, someone who

just wear a cross and walk around. You know, the

whole necklace pendant crossing, perhaps, you know, it was just introduced.

The later centuries later. 这个项链可能是在比较后期来去有的这个东西。 How did the people differentiate

and distinguish them?

所以当时的人怎么来去分辨出谁是基督徒呢?

It was because they were living as a resonance of

a giving God. 是因为他们已经来去以神的这个... They were being a resonant for

the Lord. So what? Okay, those of you who have...

studied some amount of physics or engineering. 如果你有来去读过这个物理的话。 And I

think in church, the people who know resonance the most

bestest way would be our sound people. Those are serving

in our sound team. 对, 我们的音响团队应该是对于这个公正是非常的清楚。 So, in science, what resonance is, okay? 科学里面呢, 这个公正的意思。

Is basically, you know, vibration that happens. And how that

molecules or atoms vibrate is because it receives a greater energy.

Then it passes on, it gets translated, and then that's

how sound happens. So you can see, you can hear

our voices because there's a lot of amount of vibration.

And then our voice gets amplified to you.

那为什么你能够听到声音呢?

是因为有很多不同的震动在发生, 所以才会引发出来的声音。 And resonance has to happen because it gives

greater clarity and greater depth. 这个公正它所发声呢, 才能够来去给到更加清晰还有深度的一个声音。 So if I

were to preach this morning without the mic, I think

after five minutes or like, Or maybe you may not

hear me clearly, hear us clearly. So living as a

resonance of a giving God, it really helps us to

live up our true identity which we inherit. from our

Heavenly Father. So if you look around us in the

world today, every major brand has its own Trademark. Landmark. 每一个这些大品牌, 他们都有自己的这个特殊的象征。

A signature style. 有一个很特质的一个这个风范。 An inherited identity. 有一个来去继承的这个身份。 Or maybe

a distinctive logo. 又或者是很特殊的一个标志。 Or a distinctive tone. 又或者是他们说表达的这个方法很特殊。 So

when you hear a jingle. 如果你听那一首歌。 高高, 高高。 Yeah. Or, you know,

back in the days. 755, 2525. Yeah, so. Pastor Ronson's generation.

哈哈哈哈。 So when you hear or you see a distinctive

red and white, what does it remind you of? When

you hear the tagline, now everybody can fly. So every

major brand, Just do it. Has its own trademark. Has

its own inherited identity. Although now you look at some

air prices, not everybody can fly with that price. Other

airlines has.

Better pricing. But before corporate logo existed, right? The church

has its own branding as well. How did people know

that These people that they see on the streets in

Jerusalem were followers of Jesus. 当时候在耶路撒冷, 别人怎样来去分辨这些人是基督徒呢? They could be told apart,

not because every Sunday they go to church, because then

they didn't. 他们可能被分辨出来的不是每个星期日去到教会, 因为当时他们不是只是星期日去教会。 But people could tell them apart

because of their lifestyle, their distinctive lifestyle. 他们很大可能是因为呢 他们这个很特殊的这个生活方式呢 让别人知道说他们是基督徒

And generosity was it? 然后慷慨也是其中一部分 Why? Because of the concept

of chesed, okay? It's in Hebrew 那就是因为呢 这个希伯来文的这个 chesed Alright,

so what it means is God's covenant bound loyal and

unfailing mercy and loving kindness that constantly reaches out to us.

The gospel itself It describes of God's unwavering faithful love

towards humanity. 所以这个福音它的本质就是耶稣还有神对我们的永恒不绝的爱。 It's an unfaithful love that is not

just bound or determined by feelings. Yeah. unfaithful love. Faithful

love that is not just bound by feelings. 它是一个非常忠心的爱 是不是在于我们的情绪而被左右的。

But it's an active force of grace and mercy towards us.

而是持续不断的一个很强烈的恩典 还有怜悯来去赐给我们。 So it is God's nature to continue to

give His grace and mercy towards us, although we don't

deserve it and we can never ever earn it. 虽然说我们是不配得, 我们是没有可能来去赚取的,

可是神祂持续不断把祂的恩典还有怜悯来去赐给我们。 So as the follower of Christ, We should resonate

His nature, right? 所以我们身为基督徒, 我们应该要来去让神的慷慨来去公正。 In the entire account of the Bible,

there are many, many stories of God giving unto mankind. 在整个圣经里面, 我们能够看到很多神赐给人。

There are many, many stories of God giving unto mankind.

在整个圣经里面我们能够看到很多神赐给人类的这些例子。 In Genesis itself, what happened? God gave life. 在创世纪说了什么就是神他赐生命给了亚当还有夏娃。

He gave life to his creation, the universe. 他赐给这个世界这个生命。 Then

after that, God gave his laws to guide us. And

then in chronological order, he gave his prophets. And he

gave Dan. In the New Testament, His absolute best, which

is His only Son. And that is clearly accounted in

John 3.16, right? So let's turn to it. And those

of you who have remembered this verse by heart, let's

read it out together. Alright, in 1, 2 and 3.

For God so loved the world that He gave His

only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not

perish but have an everlasting life. So what do you

notice here? The order was, 那个次序呢? God love, 神他爱, and

then he gave. 然后他给。 Right? And his love, we know,

is unconditional. 他的爱呢, 是没有条件的。 His love towards us is not out

of a transaction. 他给我们的爱呢, 不是交易性的爱。 Let's look at Acts 2, 44 then,

and 45. 使徒行传一二章四十四到四十五节。 Which we read just now, right? It says,

now all who believed we're together and had all things

in common. And the common thing was their radical generosity.

So which I did, you know, had all things in common.

I did share on this one before. It's koinonia. Malaysianize

this word. And we often tie it together with fellowship.

But the further meaning of it is actually a deep partnership.

In total sharing and sacrificial community. So it's just not

having lunch or coffee together after service. But notice this,

the word is joint participation. So it's a joint participation

together in life so that no one in ex nilae 是在一个, 比如说在X9里面呢, 有一个完全的参与度, 是我们不会来去一个人去经历生命的。

So I'm going to bring us to four foundational truths.

那今天我们来去为大家分享四个重要的点。 Of X Church, you know, our plus one factor

of being generosity branded. And I hope at the end,

you know, it's not just a value as X Church,

but it's a value that we practice as a lifestyle,

as believers. Right? So point one, generosity is powerful. 第一个点就是慷慨是大有能力的。 Why?

Because words is cheap. 因为言语其实是很廉价的。 Words can be cheap. 言语是很廉价的。

But generosity speaks a language that cuts through Skepticism enriches

places that words alone cannot go. 而是呢, 这个慷慨的这个举动呢, 能够来去破除所有的这些怀疑。 Because these days,

you know, we can just say a lot of things,

but we don't actually mean it. 因为很多时候我们可以说很多的东西, 可是我们其实也没有对它有带下任何很大的含义。 Generosity is a

language that everybody understands. It is not a barrier. You know,

our friends, you know, in our schools, in our campuses,

in our workplace, or in our neighborhood. 我们在我们的社群里面, 我们的大学啊, 我们的这个办公室。 may not

understand all the theological teaching that we have to share

with them. Or even the church culture. But everyone can

understand when someone deeply And generally steps up to help

them without asking for anything. 可是呢, 当我们来去无条件地去慷慨, 来去施使给他人的时候呢, 他们是能够理解的。 Let's look

at 1 John 3 verse 18. 让我们翻开约翰一书三章十八节。 Then we shall

1 John 3:18

read the scripture together. 1 John 3 verse 18. Okay,

1 John 3:18

it says here.

Ready?

You're there? Towards the end of the New Testament. Before

2nd John. Okay, let's read it. In 1, 2 and 3.

My little children, let us not love in word or

in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 元一书三章十八节 小子们啊, 我们相爱不要只在言语和舌头上,

总要在行动和诚实上。 In NIV, the word tongue is actually speech. So

let us not love just in word or in speech,

but in actions and in truth. So when a need

is met, When someone has a need in life and

you meet that need, the burden is immediately lifted from

the person. When a follower of Jesus, which is you

and I, give without an agenda to another person, it

immediately disarms every defenses the person has. 当我们来去没有带下任何的条件, 来去慷慨, 来去给予他人的时候呢, 就能够来去破除很多的这个保护城。

How is that so? 这个是怎么样发生呢? So the word good works, right?

We were all saved for good works. That's the word

of God. That's what He says. So either good works

or as a service, the root word is actually kalos.

It's often tied to kalos. And it actually means good.

A good that is beautiful, captivating and magnetic. So if

you see the disarming cycle. You know, you want to

disarm a ticking time nuclear bomb, right? 你懂吗? 当你来去把这个武装来去解除的时候呢? We

sometimes meet some human beings, they feel like a ticking bomb.

You know, you don't know when, they will just boom. 有些人他们就是好像一个即时炸弹一样, 如果我们要怎样解除这个炸弹的话?

When a tangible need that this ticking time bomb, walking

ticking time bomb has, is met, When the need is satisfied,

you know, immediately you can see the end result. Any,

you know, cynical mindset that they have, any defense system

that they have is immediately broken down. 你就能够看到呢, 他所自己要来去自我保护的那一个武装已经来去被解除了。 And immediately,

you know, they can see the gospel is actually made

real in their life. 这个保护意识解除以后呢, 你就能够看到这个福音就能够在我们生命里面得成。 And one of the,

you know, just being.

Believer for some time now, one of the main important

things I see that could help with that is the

Ministry of Presence. And that is actually such a ministry

called Ministry of Presence. And what does it refer to?

It refers to intentional practice of being physically, emotionally and

spiritually present with someone in time of their need. And

just being present without the need of obligation to, I'm

here because I need to fix your problem. 而不是呢, 我们来去让他们有一个压力, 就是说呢, 我和你在一起,

我就是要来去解决你的问题。 Administrative presence is not like, Okay, I'm here because

I need, to immediately offer you all the theological explanations

while you're going through this disaster. Or not even the

need to give any advices at that point of time.

It's just the act of sitting alongside with the person.

You know, being filled and embodied with Christ's love and peace.

And comfort for that person. And it just means, you know,

I just need to show up for that person. And

you may think, okay, is it from the Bible? Yes,

it is. And the foundation of this ministry of presence

is in these three pillars, okay? One, it is the character.

So the ultimate expression of Jesus Christ is referred to Emmanuel.

What does Emmanuel mean? God is with us. That's the

ministry of presence. Alright, that's from Matthew 1.23. You know,

Jesus came as a human being. He entered into human suffering.

He wept with those who were mourning. And he walked

alongside those who were hurting and those who were sinners

as well. So one, we see it exemplified in Jesus himself.

Second is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is, you know,

referred to the paraclete. It's the one who was called

alongside to help. The Holy Spirit, our comforter. And then,

you know, the last thing about ministry of presence. So

we resonate, right? We resonate who Jesus is. We are

His resonance. The Holy Spirit. 就是我们能够来去和耶稣有这个共鸣嘛, 然后有圣灵。 And then the third thing,

we resonate the word of the Lord. 然后第三个呢, 就是能够来去与神的话语达成共鸣。 So the

Bible actually explicitly instructs all of us believers, okay, from

Romans chapter 12 verse 15. Let's see what it says. 其实呢, 圣经已经有很清楚地和我们说了。

Romans 12:15

我们来看罗马书第12章15节。 Romans 12 verse 15. If you are there, you

Romans 12:15

can say yes. Read it together in 1, 2 and 3.

Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.

Galatians 6 verse 2. Galatians 6 verse 2. Galatians 6.2.

Galatians 6:2 Galatians 6:2

If you are there, you can say yes. Okay, in 1,

2 and 3. Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill

the law of Christ. The other version says, carry each

other's burdens and in this way you fulfill the law.

the law of Christ. 在英文版本呢, 这个另一个意思也是跟我们中文的含义是一样的。 So, three things, we resonate

who Jesus is, the Holy Spirit, and then what the

Word of God tells us. 第一个呢, 我们就是能够来去和耶稣的这个本质来去达成共鸣, 然后还有圣灵的这个角色也是同样。 然后第三就是呢, 我们圣经的话语很明显地写出。 So, some practical steps, okay,

in three as well, on how we can actually practice

the ministry of presence So the core component, the first

one is active, not judgmental listening. Active listening. So how

do we do that? Practice listening over speaking, allowing the

person who's going through grief or going through problems process

without fear of being corrected or being judged. 然後呢, 我們要怎麼來去做呢? 就是我們首先要來去多聆聽, 然後那些允許那個在哀痛或是追悼的這個人呢, 來去以沒有這個被...

And I had to learn it because a lot of

times when I listen, I immediately try to find solutions

to help the person. But most times, people when they

talk to you, they don't even talk, they're just there.

They can't find any words. Just actively listen. We need

to surrender the need to fix problems. And we need

to also extend Christ's body, which is just serving as

the hands and feet to help a person. 我们也可以来去, 好像基督的之子一样呢, 来去实际的行动, 来去伸出, 来去帮助他们。

So I'd like to show us the next picture. So

I'm going to ask Yanyi now because it's a picture

that she's very familiar with. So Yanyi, would you like

to share with us what happened prior to this picture?

What was the situation? Don't need translation. It's going to

be a short interview right now.

Okay, okay.

So what happened? What situation that led to this picture?

So basically, my dad had a heart attack. And then

he was scheduled to do a bypass surgery. Then Pastor

Yvonne and her family drove down together with me to

visit my dad and then prayed for him. Yeah, was

this your first... Dad's first encounter and experience to be

prayed for by Christians. Yeah, it is his first time

to be prayed for, like laid hands and prayed for

by the street, by a Christian. Yeah, because as family member,

it's quite hard for me to do it. He was like, no,

I don't need it. Yeah, what was your dad's, what

do you call that? Before that, his perception towards Christians

or Christianity itself or about Jesus? His heart was quite hardened,

I would say, because he's the type of person who

believes in man's own work instead of God's hand helping. So, yeah.

What was, you know, his reaction, you know, when he

found out that you're a Christian, you regularly go to church,

or your mum wanted to follow you to the church?

What was his reaction? Definitely he wasn't happy. But I

started going to church when I was five. He wasn't happy.

And then when I wanted to be baptised, he knew

that he can't really change my mind. then he just

said that, yeah, we are different now. What do you

think was his expectation towards you as the only child

of the family? My dad, actually he's not really a

religious person also, but he is the oldest son in

this family. So the family has the family religion. So

I think the expectation is that for his own family

to also follow suit. Yeah. I remember you did tell

me of two accounts of your dad's conversation, almost conversation

with your mum. And your mum was testing water in

a way and wanted to just check if she could

follow Jesus. What was his reaction? He wasn't happy and

he made some remarks that were not really nice. But

thank God that my mum... stood firm and he and

my mom she actually made the stance to say that

yes i'm a christian now so what in a sense

like in a nicer way yeah yeah so at that

point in time when your dad we're gonna come back

to your dad now and he found out uh that

he had a heart blockage right uh and It was

a heart bypass surgery. How many of his arteries were

actually severely blocked? The doctors wanted to plan to have

a four bypass for him. but eventually the doctors did

five because the doctor said, since he's cut open already,

might as well the fifth one too. So what do

you think your dad was feeling when he found out

of his heart condition at that point in time? So

it was after the surgery, during his recovery, that I

found out that he thought it will be his last

days as a person, as a human being. Yeah. So

do you think that contributed to him just slightly opening

up for prayer? At that time, I think he didn't

really have an option. He was just trying to be

nice to receive the prayer. But I think knowing that

my colleagues, my friends, everyone here praying for him and

different ones texting me that, hey, I'm praying for your dad.

And I'm just telling my dad, oh, my friends are

praying for you. I think it warmed his heart because

to him, it would be like, why would these people

want to pray for me? They don't know me. And

then through many different occurrences in my family, he would

know that people and the church will come around me

to support me. So there was one family member who

suddenly passed away somewhere two years ago. So then my

dad also did say that, if I pass away one day,

I think only my, like me, my daughter's friends will

come around during the funeral. Yeah. And I think the

account of two years ago was... My uncle, he certainly

had a heart attack and he just passed away within

an hour. Yeah. And I think Pastor Ronson that time... No,

Pastor Ronson is my grandmother's... Your grandmother's funeral. Pastor Ronson

drove down to Ipoh to attend the week. Yeah. So, and,

you know, we do... Yeah, Pastor Ronson went all the

way to Ipoh, attend the week and then came back

as well. Yeah. And then when my... uncles passing three

years ago, Pastor Yvonne and a few others also came

to visit. So to my family, they were like, huh,

why will they come and visit? Yeah. Yeah. And after that,

you know, what was the visible action that your dad

did to show that, you know, he accepts and receives

this extension of love and care that was given to him?

He did. He was very thankful. Visible action would be

he bought food for everyone here and also for my

colleagues as well. I didn't ask him to do that.

I said, actually, I don't need because, I mean, as

a Christian, I have to say no need. But as

a daughter, and as a, how to say, I have

to wear different hats at that time. As his daughter,

I would want to say, yes, please do so. But

as a Christian, I have to say no need. Yeah,

because I don't want to make it seem like a

transactional deal when people pray for him. Because we pray

and we don't expect things out of that person. But

then for him, he wants to extend his gratitude. And

that's why he bought food for everyone. Yeah. Was that natural?

Does he do that every day that he buys food

for people? No, he doesn't. Yeah. So, you know, just

now I talked about... Thank you so much, Yanyi, for sharing.

And you can clearly see the disarming, disarming the tough walls,

thick walls, you know, of defence of someone's life that,

you know, does not fully follow after Jesus yet. And

what was the other remark he talked about the doctor saying?

He clearly said like, I could maybe be part of this. Yes. Battery,

I think, went off. Oh, it's okay.

Oh, wow.

Okay. Basically, the surgeon that operated on my dad, he

is also a Christian. How I found out is because

when I followed my dad to have his follow-up, they

were like, you know, those Bible verses things on his clinic.

So I thought, oh, I think this doctor is also

a Christian. then he was just jokingly, jokingly, okay, say, oh,

maybe you can ask him for a 10% discount. I

think the 10% came out from the tithe concept. So

I said, why do, because the doctor has already been

very gracious and generous. With my dad's complicated surgery, he

already charged him a very, A reasonable price actually So

then I said People already charge you So reasonable already

lah No need to ask for the 10% Then he

said No ma 10% That time is like Offer for

us But now the 10% Is like kaki lang Kaki

lang means It's like our own people You know Our

fellow believers But I don't know whether That remark is

because I am a believer Or it's him saying that

I may follow suit That kind of thing Yeah And

what was the other remark he said about the scar

on his... The surgery scar. Okay, two things. The first thing, okay,

so basically the... In my perspective and how people have

been telling me or how a heart bypass would be like,

how the recovery stage would be like, when I went

back home, I was imagining him to be lying on

the bed and not being able to move because he

just got admitted. And that was like, I think the

seventh day after his surgery. Eh, no. Eighth day after the...

Seventh day after the surgery. Then... But when I reached home,

he was actually using the walker and started walking already.

Then I'm like, wow, that's fast. And then I tried

to like fan the flame. I think usual process for

a heart bypass, you'll be bedridden for a month. Yeah,

a month or more than that, actually. So then I

was trying to fan the fan and say, oh wow,

thank God that my friends are praying for you, my

colleagues are praying for you. Then my dad said, yeah.

So I think that is already a breakthrough because my

dad wouldn't give credit to God. Jesus. To Jesus, yeah.

Usually won't lah. But this round he actually did. So

it is something that is amazing. And then the next thing,

with what Pastor Yvonne has shared just now, through the

scar on his body. So basically, there is a scar

on his chest, horizontally. I don't know what, we don't

know what happened, but it just happened to be there.

And then the heart bypass, Surgery is like a straight line, right?

At his chest area. Because they saw through the ribcage. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So then he was like, Wah, now no need to

have any cross necklace on my body already. Already. That's

already one. Yeah. From someone who, you know... loathe or

at the sight of hearing the word Christian or seeing

Christian to now being open that's disarming right and all

we had to do is to be present to be

consistently present for the person Yeah, back. Back to translating. 就是呢, 因为这样子我们就看到呢, 这个我爸爸他本身的这个防卫的这个意识呢,

已经被解除了。 So generosity is one of the most effective expression

of the gospel that we can actually possess and carry

and express with us. 所以呢, 身为基督徒呢, 我们能够来去慷慨解囊的话呢, 是一个最直接最了当的一个方式。 Second point. 第二个点。 Generosity

is a spiritual indicator, alright? It is a spiritual thermometer. 慷慨呢, 它是我们属灵的这个标志。 Alright,

a thermometer that reveals the true conditions in our heart.

能够来去衡量我们在属灵上的这个基础的这个表示。 Why? Is it a thermometer? When we are spiritually dry, 当我们在属灵上非常的干枯的时候,

The word of God says, in Hebrew, okay, it says

we become stingy, okay? How do we know whether the

person is doing spiritually well is or not well, is

when they clinch on so tightly. You know, Proverbs 28, 22,

it says, And a man with an evil eye hastens

after riches and does not consider the poverty that will

come upon him. So they become very tightly clenching on

to whatever that they have. They start losing sight of

God's provision. And then they go into the mode of selfishness.

losing sight of God's provision. And then they go into

the mode of self-preservation. They go into the mode, okay,

I need to survive. Because I need to survive all

these resources in myself, I cannot share it out. 那因为我要来去尽可能去存留我所有的一切呢,

我就不能过来去和他人分享。 But when revival happens, 可是呢, 当这个复兴临到的时候, When the person is

revived and doing spiritually well, 当一个人是复兴, 然后在属灵上做得好的时候, The person will start

having good eyes. 这个人就不会有这个恶眼, 会有这个好的眼。 They see abundance around them. 一直在生命里面只能看到这个丰盛。

Because they are looking at the world through God's eyes.

Lens now. 因为他们就能够来去以神的这个视角来去看待这个世界。 Looking at the world through God's lens

of provision. 来去看待神所供应的这个视角的奉献。 So revival always produces generosity. 福星是能够来去使得我们变得慷慨。 Let's

look at the life of Zacchaeus. Very clear that he

is a revived person. 那我们来去看一下这个沙该他的这个生命。 So Zacchaeus in Luke 19

Luke 19:8–9

verse 8 to 9. So Zacchaeus, you know, he's a

tax collector. These days you say alon, right? What's alon

in English? Loan shark, yeah. He's a loan shark. But

because of his encounter with Jesus, he said this. Lord,

I give half of my goods back to the poor

and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation,

I restore four times in return. So what was Jesus' response?

He says, today salvation has come to this house. So

are we, you know, a spiritual thermometer and check for us?

Are we viewing our resources with an evil eye or

with good eyes? The third Truth about being a resonance

of God's generosity is to give meaningfully. 第三个就是带着诚意来去奉献。 So if

we are going to be a representative a true reflection

of our Heavenly Father. 如果我们要来去和我们的天父 还有耶稣来去真的达成一个共鸣的话, We must give meaningfully,

not just symbolically as a token. 我们要来去带着诚心诚意的来去给, 而不是只是意识上的给。 So there

is a difference between token giving and meaningful giving. So

if you're giving just out of token, right, it is fine.

Then our attitude and mindset is just, you know, something impulsive.

And then we do it very minimally. Or maybe it's

just to ease the conscience and the guilt that we

have So when we give it just as a token

gift It focuses a lot about just the feelings and

emotions of the giver But a meaningful giving, a meaningful giver,

you give a Out of place that, you know, you

process your thoughts about the needs of the person. 而是呢, 你会来去首先来去思考这个人的需要是什么来去给。

You are being intentional about that giving. 你是带着很有一个诚意的来去给。 And, you know,

the question will run through your mind when you are

giving meaningfully is like, what does this person actually need?

你就会来去思考这个人到底需要的是什么 For example, this person's birthday is coming up 比如说这个人的生日要到了

And our obligation, you know, I'm the person's home's leader

Okay lah, I just buy something 可能就觉得说没有办法了 As a token

因为我是他的home' s领袖嘛 我就要来去找一些东西买来送给他 Or you know, okay, I'm this person's friend

for a while Okay lah, I just buy something As

you know, how can we say it's an issue? But

it's a token, just a token just to give, just

to celebrate. But a meaningful giver would intentionally say, okay, what...

Need does this person have? You know, the person does

not have a proper tumbler. Maybe I can get a

Montego this coming birthday for this person. That's what it

is in 2 Corinthians 9, verse 7. It says here,

2 Corinthians 9:7

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart,

not grudgingly or of necessity. For God loves a cheerful giver. So, 喜爱, cheerful, hilarious.

That's the Greek word. 那一个干水... It means joyfully and willingly

and wholeheartedly eager to just give. God loves it when

we are intentional, we are giving. You know, during the

giving of our tithes and offering today unto Him, Was

it a token giving or was it a meaningful giving

to the Lord? Did we think deeply? Not think deeply, oh,

I don't have enough God. I don't give unto you, but,

you know, not a kind of think deeply, but, you know,

think deeply reflecting of God's goodness and God. I am

joyfully even giving him back unto you. 当我们来去真的花一点心思来去给的时候, 不是让我们自己内耗, 而是我们来去纪念神的这个美善来去奉献于他。 When

we meaningfully give unto someone, it actually truly empowers them. 当我们来去诚心诚意来去给的时候, 我们能够来去帮助他们, 来去使得他们刚强。

When we meaningfully be there for someone, it empowers them. 当我们诚心地与一个人同在的时候, 是能够来去帮助这个人的。

Yen is that, you know, I'm sure anyone who is

going through a major heart bypass of five arteries would

have think of the worst that will happen. 当一个人来去经历一个大桥的心脏手术的话呢, 是可以来去想到最糟糕的这个情况。 But,

you know, for him to know the whole church of

a thousand old people coming around to pray and support,

that gives him.

Strength and hope to go through the surgery. 可是当他知道说有一个教会, 那么多人来去一起为他祈祷的时候, 是能够给他一些能力,

还有一些盼望。 It helps empower him to get well. 是能够帮助他更有力量的来去康复。 And

I'm sure, because a lot of times, sometimes people are

bound to their bed, not just because of their physical condition,

but it's the condition of their heart and their mind. 你知道吗, 很多时候他们不能够有很好的康复, 很多时候不是因为他们的这个身体不能够来去复原,

而是他们的心灵里面是非常的沮丧。 For example, a person who is totally hopeless and depressed,

they will just refuse to get out of bed, right? 当一个人处在一个非常绝望还有忧郁的这个情况下呢,

他们是不想要出门的。 And her dad saw, you know, hope and future.

And within a week, he started walking. It's crazy. Yeah.

Because it's not just one wound on the chest, the

wound on his leg as well, because they take out

the arteries to replace. Because it's not just one place

that has this... Meaningful giving is giving in a way

that really actually helps the person. And somewhat in a

way helps solve a real problem. It requires thoughts, not

just impulse. Because as human beings, we can be very impulsive.

As human beings, we can be very impulsive. But giving

with sincerity is really giving with deep thoughts. Last. The

last point. Because God emphasizes it so much throughout the

whole of the Bible. And it's not because He needs

it out of us. We are giving our finances to

Him because it's not because God needs it. Because He says, right,

in Psalm 50, 10, God owns all the kettles in

a thousand hills. But because... God commands us to give

because He wants our hearts to be free. 神祂要我们来去慷慨地给予他人 是因为祂要我们的心是处在一个自由的状态。

When we give unto the Lord, 当我们来去给予神的时候, 来去透过, 我们来去透过给人来去给神的时候, It frees

us from spiritual bondage. 是能够来去帮助我们在这个属灵上除掉这个捆绑。 And the first sub-point for

this point is It reflects actually our true priorities Matthew 6.21

It says in Matthew 6.21 Let's read it together, okay?

If you're there. In one, two and three. For where

your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 因为你的财宝在哪里, 你的心也在那里。

So it's very clear. How you spend your time. 那你怎样来去花你的时间呢, 是非常清楚的。

Where you put your time into. 你要来去把你的时间花在哪里。 If we look into,

you know, if I look into her calendar. 如果来去看她的这个日历。 Then

it will tell me a true story where her value

is at, where her priority is at. 也能够来去很清楚地看到呢, 这个人的, 他的优先次序在哪里。 So when

God commands us to give, It matters because it sets

our priorities back. To the magnetic north, we call it.

That at the end of the day... God is our priority. 因为到最后,

神是我们的优先。 And what He has called us to do will

be His priority. 祂要我们所做的就是祂的优先。 The spiritual bondage of breaking from,

for me, is priorities reset. Second is, it keeps our

hearts soft towards God. 第二个呢, 就是呢, 第二个为什么慷慨是那么的重要, 是因为我们能够持续地让我们的心向神是柔软的。 Because when we

give out generosity, radical generosity, it breaks the power of materialism. 因为呢, 当我们能够来去非一般的慷慨的时候呢,

能够帮助我们不要那么的依靠在这些物质的理论上。 And you know, the root word is actually charis, right?

And Eucharistia, alright? So when we give generously, It helps

us understand carries that everything that we have is an

unearned gift from the Lord. 是能够来去帮助我们持续地记得我们所拥有的一切都是我们不用赚取回来而是神赐给我们的。 So the natural expression

and response to the carries is our gratitude, you carry stuff.

You carry still. Because then we realize that God, all

the resources that I have, everything that I have, I

am not the owner of it.

My time.

My treasure. And my talent. Everything that I have is just...

我拥有的一切。 You have just called me to be a good

steward of it. 是神你要来去让我成为一个好的管家。 When we are a good steward

of it, meaning all this is not our own property,

it's God's property. 当我们来去成为一个好的管家的时候, 我们就会来到一个认知说呢, 这些财物不是属于我的, 是属于神的。 Or the other word, caretaker.

或者是另一个就是来去看管的人物。 Alright, the other bondage that we could... breaks us from,

is it keeps us attentive to other people. 第三个点呢, 就是来去帮助我们 持续不断地能够关心和关照他人。 Why?

Because our heart can actually grow cold and hardened. 因为其实我们的心是可以来去冷淡,

还有可以来去冷淡的。 If we start feeling cold towards the work of

the Lord, start feeling cold to the people around us. 如果你已经开始对神的这个话语冷淡了,

对身边的人也就是冷淡了。 Generosity will help. Break that And help us break

through From that Help us break through from that Alright

And With Generosity It So the root word Okay sorry

I can't go into it In the details already Not

much time left But the root word Is actually Compassion

Which is Raka Raka meme Okay Yeah So it's a deep,

living compassion that you have that moves. It's like the

same as almost a bowel movement that moves us to

act when you see someone hurting. And it keeps our

heart soft. Last one, it echoes the cross. Jesus gave

sacrificially to all of us. Who we cannot actually give

anything to Him in return. 耶稣呢, 祂知道说我们不能够来去回馈于祂, 可是呢, 祂同样也是选择性的来去牺牲了祂的生命给我们。 2 Corinthians 8

2 Corinthians 8:9

verse 9 哥林多后书第八章九节 For you know the grace of the

chariots Of our Lord Jesus Christ That though he was

rich Yet for our sakes Your sakes he became poor

That you through his poverty Might become rich 你们知道我们主耶稣基督的恩典 他本来富足却为你们成了贫穷

叫你们因他的贫穷可以成为富足 So to break free 所以我们要来去从捆绑中出来的话 To melt the coldest

and hardened heart 如果我们来去软化一个非常僵硬还有冷冻的心 If we continue to close our

fists and to hang on to what you have, you

will never be able to break through and have anything new. 如果我们要持续地来去把我们的拳头握紧的话, 我们不放手的话, 我们是不能够来去走向这个突破。

But with our hands wide open, 当我们来去手展开的时候, it positions us

to be at carries grace that God has installed for us.

And so that we are able to continue to make

a difference where God has placed us. So in closing,

We have ended our 12 plus 1 value. Generosity is

a plus 1. And those of you who know maths,

you know the plus 1 factor. And it is A factor,

a plus one factor because when it's introduced into a situation,

it makes a whole lot of a difference. 但这个加一加上去的时候呢, 它是一个能够带下很大的改变的。 In

maths terms, okay, I'm going to read it exactly. The

factors of something are things that can be multiplied to

produce that something new. Alright? The factors of something are

things that can be multiplied to produce something. of something

at least. Factor. Mathematical. Okay. Never mind. So depending on

the context, okay, every decision that we make... So with

that plus one factor, suddenly there is a new shift.

So when we have this number of times, we will

have a new pattern. So with that plus one factor,

suddenly there is a new shift. 所以呢, 当我们有这个倍数的时候呢, 我们所做的一切会有一个新的格局。 Pastor Ronson, he

has a plus one factor now in his relationship that

brings a new shift in his life. Ronson 传道在这个两性关系里面就有这个加一的倍数嘛, 所以在他的生命里面的格局又不一样了。 The

plus one factor helps him with plan, okay, my time

now helps him, you know, factor in his budget. 然后呢, 在他的整个生命里面的每一个部分呢, 都会有一个不一样的这个策划。

His plus one factor, you know, help him re-evaluate different

decisions he made in his life previously as a single. 在这个单身的时候呢, 所做的决定和现在有了女朋友的这个决定是不一样的。 Right,

and you know, this plus one factor, which is generosity

for us as a church, 所以呢, 我们身为教会有了这个以慷慨闻名的这个倍数呢, Helps add on to

these twelve values, 是能够来去使得我们前面的十二个核心价值观更为大。 You see the difference? When we

are generously being Spirit-filled, when we are generous, being word-faithful,

when we are generous in praise-generating, When we are generous

in community. 当我们来去慷慨地来去赞美神, 然后慷慨地来去与我们的社群一起。 When we are generous in our prayer.

我们在慷慨地来去祈祷。 That becomes a plus one factor. 那会成为一个倍数。 That helps

us to re-evaluate and make different decisions in our life.

Every single day and every single minute.

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God bless.