Revival Giving | Eld Ang Peng Hoe

You're listening to a message to go from at church.

We hope this message will light up your day.

With me, stay with me. Okay, you're gonna turn to

your scriptures. You're if you have your bibles with you, you

can turn to your bibles. If not, I have the scripture.

Actually there's going to be up on the screen. And

this first question that we are about to attempt to

answer is this, who are we giving to? And we

actually read this scripture we studied at homes. Okay, if

there are some of you who were at homes, you

have noticed or you'll realize that there was a study

of this portion of scripture taken from Mark chapter twelve.

If you're not yet part of the homes and this

sounds all strange to you, can I encourage you to

be a part of homes because really that's where homes,

of course, is our small groups where we meet every

fortnight here in xt Church. And really it's a time

for us to have good food, good fun, good fellowship,

and also good study insights into the world of God,

which all this trusts me is the means of appropriating

God's grace in our lives. And so I want to

encourage us come together. If you're not part of the homes,

look for homes to belong to, because therein lies a

community that really wants to do life with each and

every one of you. Okay, so me and your leaders

tell them me. I heard that strange preacher that comes

once in a while telling us about homes. No, what

is this homes thing? No, I'm not homeless, or maybe

I am homeless, and I want to be part of

the homes. Okay, ask them and they will be able

to help you. Okay, but let's look at the scriptures.

So first question we will try to attempt to answer

is what who are we giving to? Okay, let's go on.

Let's read the scriptures and then I'll tell you some

stories after that. Verse thirteen to seventeen of Mark chapter twelve,

and it is entitled Texas for Caesar and Reading from

the NLT, and it says later the leaders sent some

pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap Jesus into saying

something for which he could be arrested. Teacher, They said,

we know how honest you are. You are impartial and

don't play favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully

now tell us, is it right to pay texes to

Caesar or not? Should we pay them or shouldn't we.

Jesus saw to their hypocrisy and said, why are you

trying to track me? Show me a Roman coin and

I'll tell you. When they handed it to him, he asked,

whose picture entitle are stamped on it? Caesars. They replied, well,

then Jesus said, gave to Caesar what belongs to Caesar,

and give to God what belongs to God. His reply

completely amazed them. Jesus really has a wonderful way of

answering questions. So let's let's do a little bit of

a study into this scripture. Okay, So there were a

couple of people involved in questioning Jesus, different factions, two groups.

If you read it again, and you can go back

and read the scriptures, you will realize that there are

the Pharisees and the Herodians. Okay, this was the Pharisees

and the Herodians. I will explain who they are, okay,

because normally these two groups don't hang out with each

other in bodies. Okay, the Herodians were not Jews. They

were basically political puppets in the hands of the Romans. Okay,

most of them belonged to the line of Esau. So

if you do a litty or study, you realize they

were actually Idomites, and you know, the Jews and the

line of Esau not friends. Because the Jews, if you

trace back their history, they are known as the people

of Abraham. Isaac and Jacob is the other twin. Esau

is the twin that Jacob didn't get along with. Okay,

So lineage wise you realize the Herodians, but technically people

who are hated by the Jews and moreover because the

Romans put them over the Jews. So the Romans say, okay,

you take care of this area where all the Jewish

people are so not good friends. The Pharisees, on the

other hand, were the most exclusive religious people in the

whole white world. That is who they are, and they

are so religious that they usually stay away from politics

because they see politics as a very dirty thing, okay,

and that's why all over the world sometimes you will

see that religion and politics don't usually blend in much.

It was already right from his history that you actually

see this, and so the religious people usually don't go

and line up with the politicians, and so the Pharisees

don't hang out with the Herodians because in the eyes

of the Pharisees, the Herodians are all involved in politics,

and that is usually they are not very very clean

in their eyes. Okay, But somehow, in this situation or

in these circumstances, they came together and they form an

amazing coalition. Okay. I don't know what you're call it

here in Malaysia, Pakatan Manta maybe because again, two groups

that usually don't hang out together suddenly who let's come together.

And then when we read the scriptures carefully, you'll find

that somebody else actually put them both together. If you read,

I think in either the NKJV or the NIV, it

says they they send some of the Pharisees and Herodians

to Jesus to catch him in his words. Read again

carefully read the different versions. You'll see some translations use

the word leaders, the leaders send them. In the NALT,

it says the leaders. This chance shows that really, when

people hate God, they will make all sorts of alliances.

In these circumstances, it was actually the priest, the priests

that really did not like what Jesus was doing. They

were the ones that set up the Pharisis and the Herodians,

put them together and then give them they come, I

give you use a trick questions. Go and ask Jesus

this trick question. That's what they did. And so the

Pharisees represented the Jewish side and the Jewish feelings. The

Herodians technically represented the Roman side and the Roman feelings.

And if you think about it, however way Jesus answered them,

he's going to offend one or the other. That's why

it was like almost like wow, brilliant question this one.

Do or so die? Don't do us die kind of situations, Okay,

And so the question was very offensive because all this

you have to remember Israel was an occupying nation at

this time, so the Romans were actually an enemy occupying power.

And so that's why this trap has really been put

in motion. Because if Jesus says, no, we shouldn't pay

these taxes to rome let and don't let this money

go out the country, don't let it go to rome

don't let it go to Caesar, they will straight away

have brought him to pilot and I think he would

have been executed much earlier. But if Jesus says, yes, yes,

actually we should, we should, we should give to Rome,

then in the eyes of the people, the Jewish people,

that would be probably the most unpopular thing to do,

and that would probably also mean the end of his

public ministry, because they are already waiting for someone to

come and set them free, emancipate them from this power invaders.

And yet you are saying, pay taxes to them. And

so Jesus actually saw right straight through their question, and

he knew they were not bothered about Texas at all.

He knew the hypocrisy. Actually, if you read the scriptures,

it says he knew and he saw through their hypocrisy,

and that means they did not want an answer, they

just wanted to trap him. And then, seeing right straight

through it, Jesus asked them why they were trying to

trap him. And presumably they did not reply to Jesus' question.

I don't think they reply, because it's not recorded at least,

And then he still went on to give them an answer,

because whether reply or not, since you asked the question, well,

I will give you an answer. And he gave them

a brilliant answer because he asked for what he asked for?

What did Jesus ask for? He asked for a coin.

And some people will say, wow, Jesus so poor and

one coin and so we don't have I don't think

that's how he would probably interpret the scripture is more like,

why why did he ask for a coin? Well, I

mean one of his disciples, well, the naughty one we

call is an accountant, so he probably had a bag

full of coins, or the other one, who is the treasurer,

may also have a bagfull of coins, the even naughtier one, Judas.

But he didn't ask his disciples for the coin. He

asked them to produce the coin. And I'll tell you why,

because he actually wanted something out of their own pockets,

something that they were already using, something to which they

have already committed themselves to, something in their possession. So

it was made clear that they were willing to use

this money and accept it at face value. He was

teaching them, He was trying to show them something because

he wanted them to know that this is the very

thing that you bought, you buy food with, this is

the very thing that you buy clothings for, This is

the very thing that you probably pay to get sheltered

over your head, and he is asking, now, whose money

is this? In other words, this is something that you

are already committed to, you're already involved in, and it's

a very very clever response actually from Jesus. And then

to further understand this, we must realize that during that

time Jerusalem was under the bad governance of the Herodians,

King Herod than his whole lineage, basically the whole lot.

They were not a very good lot in terms of governing,

and so the people, well at least the Jewish people

who were under these Herodians, were a little bit fed up.

So they are the ones that actually petitioned, if you

read historically, they petitioned to Rome asking for a Roman

governor in state of the Herodians to be over them,

because again, you're probably a bit fed up with this

bunch of Idomites, and they're like, oh, man, I don't

want this person anymore. And so they thought getting a

Roman governor would be better than coming under Herod and

his people, and so they actually asked the Romans to come. Actually,

they need not have had a Roman governor at all.

And when the Roman Roman governor came naturally, what did

he implement. He implemented Roman currency, he implemented Roman texas,

and so Jesus in his response was actually reminding them

that they were the ones that asked for the Romans,

and they were quite happy for the Romans to come,

and they were quite happy to use the Romans coins.

That's what it is. And they asked whether they should

pay taxes, and Jesus say, gave to Caesar. What is

Caesar's And the word used in that reply actually means repay.

It's not just pay, it's not just gift, it's actually repay.

So they had asked whether they should pay taxes, and

Jesus told them that they should repay taxes, and that

is a different matter altogether. This gives it a very

different perspective in a way. The people could not say

anything about this because they had actually benefitted from Roman governance.

Back then, there was something known as pax Romana. Pax

Romana just means Roman peace. And for many years Pax

Romana was actually intruding into the different parts of the

Mediterranean world, and it made life easy for them because

it was a peaceful time. People could travel around with

no pass What they built roads, they build a transportation system. Basically,

they benefited from the Romans. They benefited by being a

protectorate of the Romans, and so they knew that they

really reap something, they really received something. And so Jesus said,

instead of just pay, he says, repay to them. But

Jesus goes on to something more in the second part

of the sentence, because he didn't just stop that. He

didn't just say give to Caesar what belongs to Jesus,

because he continued on to say what and to God

what belongs to God. You see, we also have a

duty to God for the benefits you get from God,

and God has a right to expect something from you,

as well as Caesar having the right to expect something

from them back then. And that's why Christians are sometimes

known as people who have dual citizenship, because to a

certain extent, there were citizens of the earth, and they

owe certain things to the earthly country to which they belong,

and to another extent, they are also citizens of Heaven

and alle certain things to the Kingdom of Heaven, which

they also belong to. And so the problem usually ever

only arises for a Christian. Eve Let's just say Caesar

begins to claim something that only God can claim. Then

the Christians, who probably have to say, no, I can't

give you that. And actually that they did come because Caesar,

if you read history, realized that at some point he

felt and he thought that he was God, and he says,

I am God, you must worship me as Lord. And

that's when the Christians responded that there's something that isn't

yours and we can't give it to you. And honestly,

we would rather go into the dance and be fed

to the lions than to give you what you are

the money for, because that only belongs to God. They

got their hate screwed on. But that's a different part.

Let's come back, Okay, let's come back to this encounter

right here, right now. Give to Caesar. What is Caesars?

You're using his money. Why shouldn't you give him his money?

That was what Jesus was trying to tell them, And

if you really want to be logical, you should not

touch his money in the first place. Actually, actually, but

you see, Jesus was also rubbing it in because the

priests were very very wealthy, all of them were very

very wealthy. Actually, because all of them benefitted from the

piece in the Roman Empire, and all of them sort

of like the Roman cash. Haha. It's good to be rich.

And that's why Untie today, actually you realize Jewish people

all quite wealthy, being involved in the banking system since long, long,

long long time time ago. So that's that's the truth.

And so uh, Jesus is saying, but don't forget to

give to God? What is God? You see me and

you today? We use we use cash, we use money

right and all our money got someone's picture on it.

Do you realize that if you go to the UK,

I don't know whether the UK changes his currency. The

King Charles saidiah change change. I don't know who's been

to the UK. I mean the UK. I remember going

to his all Queen Elizabeth Spacelane, okay, and of course

our currency is uh the young di batoon are going.

I think the first one that's probably an agrest, and

one is it I can't remember, and then yeah, but

it's it's he's he's not around it. They don't change,

They don't keep changing because if not, very sousiety every

five years got to print new notes. Okay, but there

is an image on the money that we have. Basically,

what that says is the ruler of the nation actually

has a claim over that over that currency. It's a

legal tender and they have a claim over it. And

that's why you know it's either Bank Nagara or Bank

of England. Yeah, but you understand that, you understand the concept.

But I want to ask you this question. What is

it which has God's image on it? The currency note

has got the king's image or the queen's image, and

that's why they have a claim to it. But what

is it that has God's image on it? And you're right,

the answer is every man and every woman here on earth. Therefore,

what I must render to God that he deserves is

actually me, because He has a right to me. We're

all created in his image. Imen. If the money that

we use has the image of an earthly ruler, who

therefore has a right to it, we who are made

in the image of God, in the image of a

heavenly king, he has a right to us. Amen. And

that is what Jesus's teaching here tells us. In this way,

he turns very cleverly back onto them a question that

they directed to him. He turned it around and He

asked them whether God is getting from them what God

should be getting from them. And that is the biggest

question that we have to ask because ultimately, ultimately all

of us we are giving unto God. So to the

question who are we giving to? Whenever we give, we

give unto God because we are all made in His image.

Makes sense. Okay, next question, I'm just gonna move, move, move. Okay,

hopefully you're gleaned something from this. So what is the

amount of cash we should give? How much? How much?

How much? Everyone wants to know. Okay, let's read honor.

We are still in Mark chapter twelve, and I believe

this was also in the homes notes. Okay, we're gonna

talk about verses forty one to forty four now, and

it says this the widows offering. Jesus sat down near

the collection box in the temple and watched as the

crowds drop in their money. Many rich people put in

large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in

two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said,

I tell you the truth. The poor widow has given

more than all the others who are making contributions, for

they give a tiny part of their surplus. But she,

poor as she is, has given everything she has to

live on. Okay, different translations read it slightly differently, but

I think you'll all get the gist of it. So

our Lord he was sitting down chilling, and then he

was watching people give into the collection. Usually at the

outside the temple or the synagogue, there's this like a

huge metal vase. You can google it. Know it looks

like a trump pet, sort of like a trumpet or

a trumpet looking receptacle. Uh. It's usually set up at

the gate that leads into the treasury, and then when

people go in, they're just put their money in. The

bigger your coin, the more noise he makes life. Okay, Okay,

Usually it's at a small little dime. I don't know,

a smaller dinner. I can't remember all the Roman terms.

But big coin make a lot of noise. Okay, maybe

that's why it also, you know trumpet. Know, he always

talks about blowing your trumpet. But I don't think it's historical,

and I don't think it came from here. But you

throw a bigger coin make more noise. And that is

why Jesus said that when you give, you're not to

let your right hand know what your left hand is giving.

When Jesus talked about giving, he's trying to say, don't

don't go blow your own trumpet when you're giving. Right

sh they even know what left is doing. But this

poor little woman came along and all she had was

two tiny coins, and she dropped it into the treasury.

And actually that is when you get the first glimps

of what real religion is, because for the first time

you catch a glimpse of someone who loves God with

all they have got God. And I'm sure that is

why the Holy Spirit orchestrated it in a way where

this little story or this account actually appears in the

Gospel of Mark. The story of a poor woman giving

to God all she has is actually a beautiful finish

to the public ministry of Jesus. He was telling a

whole story because Jesus was telling and he was doing

different things, and then he ended with this highlighting this story.

It tells us that when Christ looks into the collection,

he does not ask what that give will buy, but

he will ask what it costs. That's a whole big difference.

It's a very different way of trying to add up

to the collection. Usually when we do collection, when we

count the collection, we always talk about what we can

buy with it. Oh, we need to collect for I

don't know, for a building fund. No, there's a fixed

target that we want to get to. It's usually in

that manner. But here Jesus is not asking what it

can buy. I'm not asking you to count and know

how much you can buy it, but I want you

to know how much it costs a little bit harder

to quantify how much it costs, but that is essentially

what Jesus is looking at. We can't quantify it so easily,

but he's looking and that it may have cost some

very little, and it may have cost some a great deal.

But God is always looking at what the offering costs,

not what it amounted to or to put in another way,

he's not looking at what you put in. He's usually

looking at what you hold back. Think about it. That

is usually the case, because even for me, giving is

not an easy thing. We are always we're always calculating.

It's human nature, me included, and so there are days

when we realize that we hold back a lot more

then we should be giving. Unto God, and that is

essentially what God is actually looking at. Because Jesus called

his disciples and he called them together, and then he

highlighted the actions of this poor widow, and he said,

I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put

more into the treasury than all others. Wow, how does

that even make sense? Doesn't make accounting sense that she

put in more than the rest. Maybe they had thought her,

maybe the I don't know, disciples, the poor widow just

dressed up poor. You know, actually she filthy rich on

her ah. And then that's why Jesus said, no, she

is put more. But actually she did. Really she was poor,

and she put in two mites. And the Lord was

not trying to sugar quote that. He said, they all

gave out of their wealth, but she, out of her poverty,

put in everything all that she had to live on.

And so the other people he had watched were throwing

their collection in on that they get from what was leftover.

And a lot of us do that, me included. There

are days when we'll all be like, oh, this is

what's left over, and I'll put that into the offering.

And that's the literal meaning of the word here but

this poor woman gave all that was left. It's different,

and really it goes to show her heart. And so

the way to apply this to ourselves is not necessarily

no I'm telling you, please go to the bank and

withdraw all your money, bring it to aniversary someday next week.

No no, no, no. It is actually to go home

and say, Lord, do you have all that I have got?

Do you have it? And there are different ways of

giving all that you have got. That was this poor

widow's way of giving, and there are other lovely ways

as well, because again, we offer unto God, not just

our treasure, but our time, our talents as well. And

Jesus could look at a simple, unnoticeable little widow and

show that she was so wonderful. And you know, this

story has been immortalized and we don't even know the

name of this person. But yet until today, millions still

talk about the woman who gave two copper coins. Isn't

that amazing? Many who are first will be last, and

many who are last will be first. I'm telling you

that accounts in the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom

of Heaven sometimes don't make sense, doesn't add up, sounds difficult,

but it's actually not. Everyone still in me? Now, let's move,

let's move, and let's study even more. What is New

Testament giving really about that? Because it is a slightly

different emphasis from the Old Testament way of giving. It

is and we can readily admit that Old Testament usually

is bring a tithe and bring the first fruit. You see,

some of these terms use, sometimes use interchangeably, sometimes use separately.

But that's how the Old Testament teaches to give, and

there's nothing wrong in it. Until today, I still believe

that there is value in the Old Testament way of giving, Okay,

especially as reference. But let's look at New Testament way

of giving. Okay. Second Corinthians, Chapter eight versus one to nine.

And you're still in me, still me, ah, okay, still

with me? And this is Paul, and he's right now,

and he says, is now. I want you to know,

dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has

done through the churches in Macedonia. They are being tested

by many troubles, and they are very poor, but they

are also filled with abundant joy which has overflowed in

rich generosity. For I can testify that they give not

only what they could afford, but far more. And they

did it of their own free will. They begged us

again and again for the privilege of sharing in the

gift for the believers in Jerusalem. They even did more

than we had hope for. Their first action was to

give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as

God wanted them to do. Love it when you read it,

of course, not always easy. But hear what Paul has

you say, because Paul gave us a very wonderful account

of what generous giving really looks like. You see, the

church in Macedonia actually excelled in giving. It was a

very very giving church. Why did Paul say this? And

we all know at that time believers in Jerusalem was struggling.

So Jerusalem, of course is where the mother the Mothership

is like, okay, where they all go back to and

know the Christians were also struggling. Back then, the church

there was struggling. They were very rare poor. But you

think about it, the Macedonian church that Jesus is talking

about here was also poor. It's not that they were

like swimming in cash and a lot of money and

a lot of No, they were also poor, but they

never missed an opportunity to collect funds to be given

to their brothers and sisters in Jerusalem who needed it more.

And some people say that it is the poor who

knows how to give, because they know what it means

to be one thing, They know what it means to

be in need. Maybe there is some truth there. And

so the Macedonian church was very, very very generous. They gave,

and they all gave out of poverty because they have

gone through a fiction themselves, That's what the scripture says.

They've gone treat themselves. But they were filled with abundant joy.

That's crazy, right, It's a crazy way of thinking. They

were filled with abundant joy. Why because they first gave

themselves to God. And when that happens, their own will

is somehow replaced by God's will. And God's will is

to always provide for his children and his church to

have enough. That has always been God's will. If you

study the scriptures, you realize that he says, look at

the birds in the end, the lilies in the field,

You know, do they look like they are living in

Let know what more? The children of God? How more

will they live in lect? So God's will has always

been for his children and his church to have enough.

And Paul teaches that Christian giving is not how little

need I give, but actually how much? How much can

I give us a lot of times we always like

the minimum threshold. Tell me what's the least I can do? Actually,

Jesus is teaching us. Shouldn't you be asking? Tell me

what's the most I can do for you? Tell me

what's the most I can give? Because we always want

to give the minimum. Tell me what's the least needed?

You say, Christian generosity goes beyond what is expected, not

just to give what is expected, but to go as

far as possible. I know it's crazy, it's crazy, but

yet the Macedonian Church understood it, and they rejoice in

doing so, and they look forward to the opportunity. Why

why were they so opportunistic in that sense? Like, hey, no,

please don't deprive me of this opportunity to give. Why? Well,

go on to read verses six to nine. It says this,

Remember this, A farmer who plans only a few seats

will get a small crop, but the one who plans

generously will get a generous crop. You must each decide

in your heart how much to give, and don't give

reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves a

person who gives cheerfully, and God will generously provide all

you need. Then you will always have everything you need

and plenty left over to share with artists. As the

scriptures say, they share freely and give generously to the poor.

They are good deeds. You will be remembered forever. Amen.

The Lord blessed the reading of his wonderful word. So

Christian generosity is not about giving out of pressure. It's

not about giving out of compulsion, because it does say,

and he says it very clearly, the Lord loves a

cheerful giver. You find me a cheerful giver who's giving

out of compulsion so doesn't exist like okay. So to

be a cheerful giver means that when the time comes

in the worship service to present our collection or our offering,

all you have to do is enjoy it, rejoice in it,

just as the Father in Heaven loves giving good things

to its Churan. Therefore, let us be cheerful when we give.

Remember this, the Lord is not asking us to have resources.

He is actually asking us to have attitude that's more important.

Giving is not about what you have externally, it is

about what you have on the inside. Because God will

always provide enough for us to give if we will

want to give to a greater need and cause for

his purpose and his will, he will. He has given

all of us the ability to earn and to be

a blessing to others. Remember, giving is a form of sowing,

and sowing always leads to ripping. That is why the

Macedonian Church say that you know, the more you the

more you saw, the more you rip, the more opportunities

I have to give, the more we will see the blessing.

And so this is where it all stems from. It

is the gift of Christ in God's generosity that stimulates

the gracious work of generosity in our hearts. God is

the source of it all. Grace, which basically means getting

what you don't deserve, and God's grace is something that

all of us can appropriate in our Christian work and

our Christian journey. Grace produces thanksgiving and generosity, and thanks

be to God for his amazing grace in our lives,

because that is the only way and that's the only

place where you derive generosity from you get it from God.

Remember this always Our God knows our needs and will

henceforth always supply to our needs. But nowhere in the

scripture does it say that he supplies to our greed.

He supplies to our need, not our great So this

is where we have to be very very careful and

don't ever substitute ritual for righteousness, don't ever substitute offering

for obedience, and don't ever substitute sacrifice for submission, because ultimately,

what is the Lord looking for in our lives? And

I'm preaching to myself, really it's not about the rituals.

It's about whether we choose to do what is right.

It's not about earth bringing the best offering, making it

sound all pomp and blad that is great. No, it's

about whether we are obedient to him. And it's really

not about the fact that all I put in so much,

I'm sacrificing so much. Know what he is ultimately looking

for is our wes submitted to his will. Amen. So

God's focus really is not just about resources, It's about attitude.

And if you want to be generous, then God will

give you the resources to be generous. And this is

why Paul tells us it is not so much the gift.

It is the giving that really touches the heart. Not

so much the gift, the fact that you are giving.

That is what is powerful. And it means the generosity

of the Lord Jesus, the grace of the Lord Jesus,

who though he was rich, yet for our sakes he

became poor, gave it all away for us. And that's

why he ended it by saying me, the grace of

the Lord Jesus be with each of you. Amen. And

so Paul is essentially saying, it was not just good

of you to give, but it is actually good for

you to give. A lot of times we want someone

to say good of you, men, good of you, But

actually it's not just good of you. It's actually good

for you. It's good for our soul. And so this

is how we are taught to give in the New Testament. Obedient, regular, generous, proportionate,

and voluntary. I believe that's what cheerful means. Give cheerfully give, obediently,

give regularly, give generously, give proportionally, and give voluntarily. It

means the Lord only wants what we want to give.

But remember he takes note of what we hold back,

because that is the truth of it. Amen, I'm almost done.

Does giving make sense now? So very important as we

come to the aniversary giving time, which is this coming Sunday,

I pray that all of you will pray. We have

never asked people to give a specific amount. This is

between you and God. Whatever the Lord puts in your heart,

you're giving it unto him first and foremost. Give to

Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs

to God, because all of us are made in the

image of God. I know money is probably one of

the hardest things to talk about because it is one

of our most precious possessions. It is, but if we

are not careful, money can possess us. That means it

no longer is a possession. It becomes the possessor. And

I tell you this, this is how I view the

economic situation in today's world. Because money will never always

be able to keep its value. You'll save it, and

you'll save and save and save it, and sometimes it

all ends up to nothing. You'll try to use it,

and sometimes it won't buy what you want to buy.

You know why, you want to know why? Because if

you think about it, what is money? Money is actually trusts.

The currency note in our pocket is a prom Surrey, No, okay.

It is basically a promise written on a piece of

paper to hold its value, and it is actually dependent

on mutual trusts. But in a society that mistrusts so much,

money will never hold its value in that sense. Because

you think about it, we live in a society that

don't trust each other. That's the truth of it. And

so that's why I'm always very very careful. I know

it's something that's very very important, but I also understand

that sometimes, yes, it does lose its value. Why I'm asking, oh,

so why does it lose it? Very well, it's because

we don't trust each other, and sometimes that's why it

doesn't hold its verue. That's why we have to be

very very careful, very very careful with money and real

remember this. You know. Sometimes we think that we can

bring all of this with us when we go. Actually,

not a dime you'll be able to bring with you

when you go. That is the reality of it. Sometimes

we save like as though we have no we need

to build our mansion up in heaven. But God says

you start building your mansion here on earth. That's key,

and that's most important. And so beware of temptations. This

is another reminder temptations. It's everywhere. You know. Jesus was tempted,

and if you study how he was tempted, he was

tempted with the pleasures of his flesh. He was tempted

with power, the power that the devil actually offered him,

which actually he says, I don't need your power. He

was tempted with popularity. See the devil wanted him to

go up to the highest spinnacle, and Jesus was like,

I don't need to be popular in this world. I

don't need that. Ultimately, Jesus resists all these temptations. So

we must always be careful when it comes to money,

to learn how to resist its temptations because it is there.

But what is it that we can do to make

sure that we are in the right place and the

right position, having the right posture when we are giving,

And it is this. If you read Philippians, here is

another story that Paul is actually another letter that Paul wrote,

and there's a scripture in Philippiins that talks about content.

Contentment I know is a word that we're like rh

always tiences. We live life like, we are never contented

because we always want something better. And that's the reality, right.

You can be not very rich and you want to

be a bit richer. You can be richer and you

want to be even more richer. You can be the

richest and you want to be the richest riches human nature.

I'm honest, myself included. If I think about it, contentment

is something that is so hard to come by. But

yet Paul wrote this in Philippians chapter four, and he says,

it's not that I was ever in need, for I

have learned how to be content with whatever I have.

I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything.

I've learned the secret of living in every situation, whether

it is with a full stoma or with an empty stommer,

with plenty, all with little Hallelujah. And then he goes

on to say this verse that we love to quote

over and over and over again. He says, for I

can do everything, true Christ, who gives me strength, Even so,

you have done well to share with me in my

present difficulty. No such, I think about it. When Paul

was talking, it's almost like you're saying, thank you so

much for giving to me, because they actually collected money

to give to you. He was itinerant minister, he was

moving from place to place, but he had to also

remind them not that I was ever in need, because

I've learned. I've learned to be contented, whether I'm hungry

or whether I'm full, whether I have plenty or whether

I have little. I've learned how to be contented because

I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.

That verse is actually in the context of possession, in

the context of having money. It's not a verse that

you go and say everything, I can do all things

to Christ, who strengthens me. Putting it back in context,

you'll realize is actually talking about what you have. And

I think that's a powerful, powerful reminder. Let's stand. You know,

I'm going to ask Joe on to leaders in the

song worthy, because I tell you why our giving in

comparison to what God has given to us is a

pale resemblance. Really, and so you know worthy, He is worthy.

Why we do what we do? Why do we give?

Remember again this, I know sometimes different ones have encountered

a lot of real challenges in giving. Sometimes you give

to the church and know the church is used to find.

Sometimes you work so hard for a company and the

company thanks and makes mistakes. But you see, all this

will be different if only we know who we are

giving to it as someone who is giving. Remember this,

when I give, I give my best to the Lord.

How that is being used, what happens thereafter? I still

know that I did what I was asked to do,

because he is worthy, and I give, and I give generously. Yes,

Sometimes living in a broken world, in a place where

there's constantly mistrust, in a place where we are constantly

lying to each other, in that sense, may seem like ah,

I think, if that's the case, I'd rather not give.

And that is not the attitude that the Lord ever

wants of his people. That means, even if you're pouring

it down the drain, like how the world sometimes says,

you're giving because he asks you to set it aside

for him, give until he remembered. Whenever we give, we

give unto the Lord, and we say, Lord, may you

use it for the glory of your kingdom. I pray

as we prepare our hearts to give this coming anniversary Sunday,

our hearts.

We hope you've been blessed by this message. For more

information on our church, please visit axchurch do org. We

are also active on Facebook and Instagram. We're believing that

this week is going to be a good week, a

hit for you. God bless