WEBVTT 1 00:00:03.080 --> 00:00:08.119 Pastor Rick Warren often says, you were made by God and for God, 2 00:00:08.359 --> 00:00:14.279 and until you understand that, life will never make sense. Welcome to Pastor 3 00:00:14.359 --> 00:00:19.280 Rick's Daily Hope Today. In our series called God's Vision for the Rest of 4 00:00:19.320 --> 00:00:24.480 your Life, Rick continues in his effort to help you discover the unique purpose 5 00:00:24.600 --> 00:00:28.839 and vision that the Lord has for your life. Now, in just a 6 00:00:28.879 --> 00:00:31.879 few moments, we're going to tell you how to get a copy of the 7 00:00:32.039 --> 00:00:37.960 brand new Daily Hope twenty twenty one Prayer Journal based on the theme God's Great 8 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:42.840 Adventure for You, a great resource to help make your time in prayer the 9 00:00:42.880 --> 00:00:46.920 best it can be. Go to Pastorick dot com to find out more, 10 00:00:47.200 --> 00:00:52.280 or text the word daily to eight hundred six hundred five thousand and four. 11 00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:58.240 That's Pastorick dot com, or the word daily to eight hundred six hundred five 12 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:02.560 thousand and four. Right now. Now, here's Pastor Rick Warren with part 13 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:11.599 one of a message called Enabling the Vision Purpose Driven giving. Notice this verse 14 00:01:11.640 --> 00:01:15.480 on the first page the Bible says tell people to use their money to do 15 00:01:15.519 --> 00:01:21.079 good. They should be rich in good works and should give happily to those 16 00:01:21.120 --> 00:01:25.719 in need, always being ready to share whatever God has given them. By 17 00:01:25.760 --> 00:01:30.439 doing this, they'll be storing up real treasure for themselves in heaven. It 18 00:01:30.519 --> 00:01:34.000 is the only safe investment for eternity, and they will be living a fruitful 19 00:01:34.079 --> 00:01:38.680 Christian life down here as well. Now, I want you to notice three 20 00:01:38.719 --> 00:01:42.040 things. This is a very important verse. First, I want you to 21 00:01:42.040 --> 00:01:48.719 circle the phrase use their money. When you circle that, the Bible teaches 22 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:53.400 that money is to be used, not loved. The Bible doesn't say money 23 00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:57.319 is bad. The Bible says the love of money is bad. You are 24 00:01:57.359 --> 00:02:01.719 to use money and love people. Use money, love people. Now, 25 00:02:01.760 --> 00:02:05.719 if you start loving money, you're going to do the opposite. You're going 26 00:02:05.760 --> 00:02:09.000 to use people to get more money. So write this down in your outline 27 00:02:09.039 --> 00:02:13.360 somewhere. Money is a tool. That's what it is. It's a tool. 28 00:02:14.120 --> 00:02:17.800 It is a tool that God gives you to help fulfill your purposes in 29 00:02:17.879 --> 00:02:22.520 this life. And you were to use it as a tool, and it 30 00:02:22.520 --> 00:02:25.280 has great potential for good if you use it the way God intended. The 31 00:02:25.319 --> 00:02:30.280 Bible says, use your money. Second, I want you to notice that 32 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:35.639 the Bible says that you can store up financially in eternity. It's like a 33 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:38.439 bank in heaven. The Bible says you can store up financially in heaven. 34 00:02:38.639 --> 00:02:44.599 And notice I want you to circle the phrase for themselves. It says they 35 00:02:44.639 --> 00:02:50.080 will be storing up real treasure for themselves. Circle that for themselves in heaven. 36 00:02:50.280 --> 00:02:53.759 You can actually bank in heaven. Jesus called it storing up treasure for 37 00:02:53.879 --> 00:02:58.560 yourselves in heaven. Now you've heard people say, all along, well you 38 00:02:58.680 --> 00:03:01.560 can't take it with you. Well, that's true, but you can send 39 00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:08.120 it on ahead. You can send it on ahead once you die. Whatever 40 00:03:08.199 --> 00:03:12.879 you leave behind, you're leaving behind, but you can send it on ahead. 41 00:03:12.960 --> 00:03:15.639 And the Bible says you can store up treasure in heaven. And today 42 00:03:16.599 --> 00:03:20.240 we're going to talk about how you do that. How you do that? 43 00:03:21.159 --> 00:03:25.759 Now? The Bible says also that you invest in eternity by using your money 44 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:32.520 for God's purposes for your life. And that investment is proven, it's secure, 45 00:03:34.199 --> 00:03:39.080 it's risk free, it's guaranteed interest, it yields dividends forever. Now, 46 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:43.439 if you were to go to a financial advisor, any financial advisor in 47 00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:47.319 the world would tell you, don't put all your eggs in what one basket, 48 00:03:47.479 --> 00:03:52.639 right exactly, And you know what God would tell you the exact same 49 00:03:52.719 --> 00:03:58.039 thing. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. You need a diversified 50 00:03:58.879 --> 00:04:04.199 financial folio. And that's the same thing as true spiritually. You need a 51 00:04:04.280 --> 00:04:11.879 diversified investment to portfolio. Now, since God has five purposes for your life, 52 00:04:12.919 --> 00:04:17.480 guess how many investment funds he has five. That's right, one for 53 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:21.959 each purpose of your life. And today we're gonna look at five ways to 54 00:04:23.079 --> 00:04:28.240 use your money to further God's purpose in your life as long as you live, 55 00:04:28.600 --> 00:04:31.759 and at the same time storing up treasure in heaven. As Jesus called 56 00:04:31.800 --> 00:04:36.160 it. God's five financial investment funds. So let's look at them. If 57 00:04:36.199 --> 00:04:40.920 you turn the page, the first one is this, God wants me to 58 00:04:41.000 --> 00:04:46.639 invest in his treasury fund. God wants me to invest in his treasury fund. 59 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:50.839 Now I call it the treasury fund based on these two scriptures. Here 60 00:04:51.720 --> 00:04:58.160 Matthew six, Jesus says this, don't store up for yourselves treasures on earth, 61 00:04:58.959 --> 00:05:02.120 where moth and us destroy and where thieves can break in and steal, 62 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:06.839 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven. There's that same phrase again. 63 00:05:08.040 --> 00:05:12.240 He says, you store up treasures in heaven. The next verse job says 64 00:05:12.279 --> 00:05:15.920 this, give up your lust for money, then the Almighty himself will be 65 00:05:16.360 --> 00:05:19.839 your treasure. Now, how do I invest in this first fund? This 66 00:05:19.959 --> 00:05:23.000 is the one that most of you know about. Most of you don't know 67 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:27.199 about the other four. This is called the Treasury fund. And I invest 68 00:05:27.240 --> 00:05:31.920 in the Treasury fund by using some of my money to express worship. To 69 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:38.160 express worship, you might write that down. Now, why do I do 70 00:05:38.279 --> 00:05:41.600 that? Because it makes God happy? You know, when I was a 71 00:05:41.600 --> 00:05:46.040 little kid, I used to buy or make all these little cheesy gifts for 72 00:05:46.399 --> 00:05:49.399 my parents, and when I look back at them, they were really lame. 73 00:05:50.600 --> 00:05:55.319 But every time I would give my parents a present, they were overjoyed 74 00:05:55.319 --> 00:05:58.680 by it. Now it wasn't like I could give them something they didn't already 75 00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:02.079 have. It wasn't like they needed anything for me, because they didn't. 76 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:06.199 But they were just enjoyed, enjoyed the fact that I thought of them. 77 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:10.319 One time, when I was eight years old, I went into a thrift 78 00:06:10.399 --> 00:06:15.000 store and I bought my mother a dress for twenty five cents, and I 79 00:06:15.079 --> 00:06:18.480 thought it was a really cool dress. Now, it was about a size 80 00:06:18.600 --> 00:06:27.240 four and my mom was a size twelve. So and I remember the clerk 81 00:06:27.360 --> 00:06:30.800 knew my mom. She said rick Actually she said Ricky because I was called 82 00:06:30.839 --> 00:06:33.199 Ricky as a kid. Ricky, your mom couldn't get her big toe in 83 00:06:33.240 --> 00:06:41.160 that dress. I was so offended. I went home crying. And when 84 00:06:41.160 --> 00:06:45.319 I gave my dress to my mom, that was the cheesiest gift. But 85 00:06:45.480 --> 00:06:48.000 she was so thrilled. You know that when my mom died, I found 86 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:53.680 that dress in one of her chests. She'd kept it all those years. 87 00:06:54.399 --> 00:06:58.399 Now, there's nothing you can give God that he needs, and God certainly 88 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:01.079 doesn't need your money. But when you come and you give an offering to 89 00:07:01.120 --> 00:07:04.120 God, you're saying, God, I love you, God, I'm thinking 90 00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:08.199 of you, God, I want you first in my life. And that's 91 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:11.519 the first purpose of life, to know and love God your plan for his 92 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:15.319 pleasure. And when you give back to God, it makes God smile. 93 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:18.800 He doesn't need it. He does it because you're saying, I love you 94 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:23.240 and I'm generous and I want to be with you. Notice these verses. 95 00:07:24.120 --> 00:07:28.279 The Bible says, honor the Lord by giving him the leftovers of all your 96 00:07:28.279 --> 00:07:35.879 income. Oh I misread that, Didn't I honor the Lord by giving him 97 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:42.680 the first part of all your income. That's called tithing. We'll look at 98 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:48.600 the next verse for where your treasure is there your heart will be. Also. 99 00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:53.600 Do you want to get a heart for Microsoft. You want to get 100 00:07:53.639 --> 00:07:56.600 interested in Microsoft. I'll tell you how to do it. Buy some stock. 101 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:01.160 The moment you buy some Microsoft stock, all of a sudden, you're 102 00:08:01.160 --> 00:08:05.199 gonna get really interested in that company, and you're gonna read articles about it 103 00:08:05.240 --> 00:08:07.519 that you never read before. If you don't own stock and Microsoft, you 104 00:08:07.519 --> 00:08:11.040 couldn't care less about that company. But where your treasure is, your heart 105 00:08:11.079 --> 00:08:15.959 will be. You want to get interested in Sony Corporation, Buy some stock 106 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:18.680 in Sony. The moment you buy stock in it, you're gonna get real 107 00:08:18.759 --> 00:08:22.399 interested in it. Why Because the principle of life is wherever you put your 108 00:08:22.399 --> 00:08:28.759 money, that's where your interest goes. Now here's the question, where is 109 00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:31.200 your heart, Well, it's wherever you're putting your money your heart. Your 110 00:08:31.200 --> 00:08:35.320 treasure may be in your boat. Your treasure may be in your motorcycle. 111 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:39.000 Your treasure may be in your home. It may be in your car, 112 00:08:39.080 --> 00:08:41.720 It may be in redecorating. Your treasure may be in your hobby. I'll 113 00:08:41.720 --> 00:08:45.039 tell you, without even knowing you, I can tell you where your heart 114 00:08:45.120 --> 00:08:48.360 is, It's wherever your treasure is. Because regardless of what I say is 115 00:08:48.440 --> 00:08:52.080 important to me, the way I spend my time and the way I spend 116 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:56.399 my money shows what's really important to me. And if you want to know 117 00:08:56.440 --> 00:08:58.639 what's important to Rick Warren, all you got to do is look at two 118 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:03.720 things. Look at my schedule and look at my checkbook stubs, and that'll 119 00:09:03.720 --> 00:09:07.399 tell you real quick what's important to me. And the same thing is true 120 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:09.399 for you. And you may say something's important, but the way you spend 121 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:13.840 your time, the way you spend your money shows what's really important to you. 122 00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:18.200 So where do you want your heart to be, Well, wherever you 123 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:18.679 want it to be, Say, well, I want my heart to be 124 00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:24.360 with God. Then you need to put your treasure in God, because where 125 00:09:24.360 --> 00:09:26.759 your treasure is, your heart will be. Also. You know, every 126 00:09:26.799 --> 00:09:30.960 time I feel distant from God, I feel I don't feel close to God. 127 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:33.399 I feel like God's a million miles away. One of the things I 128 00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:37.559 do is I give an offering. Why because wherever I put my money draws 129 00:09:37.600 --> 00:09:41.360 me to that. If I gave my money to you, it draws me 130 00:09:41.399 --> 00:09:43.679 closer to you. If I give my money to God. It draws me 131 00:09:43.720 --> 00:09:46.559 closer to God. If I give my money to something over here, it's 132 00:09:46.559 --> 00:09:50.559 going to draw me closer to that. It's just a principle of life. 133 00:09:50.759 --> 00:09:56.039 Now, the Bible says that not every kind of giving is an act of 134 00:09:56.080 --> 00:09:58.080 worship. So what is it? Write these two things down. First, 135 00:09:58.159 --> 00:10:05.720 worship giving is undesignated. It's undesignated. That means you don't control it, 136 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:07.600 you don't direct it, you don't tell God what to do with it. 137 00:10:09.279 --> 00:10:11.639 The heart of worship is surrender, and you just say, Lord, I'm 138 00:10:11.720 --> 00:10:15.519 just given this to you, whatever you want to do with it. The 139 00:10:15.559 --> 00:10:18.480 Bible says in the Book of Leviticus, you may not take back what you 140 00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:26.039 have unconditionally dedicated to the Lord. So worship giving is not strategic giving. 141 00:10:26.080 --> 00:10:30.120 It's just undesignated. Here, it's all yours God. And then the second 142 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:35.000 thing, it's given when and where I worship. Worship giving is given when 143 00:10:35.080 --> 00:10:39.480 and where I worship. Now, the Bible says this in First Corinthians. 144 00:10:41.240 --> 00:10:46.039 On every Sunday, put aside something from what you've earned during the week and 145 00:10:46.200 --> 00:10:48.639 use it for the offering. The amount depends on how much the Lord has 146 00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:52.759 helped you to earn and notice several things. Worship giving is weekly, it 147 00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:56.519 says on every Sunday. Now, why that, because that's when and where 148 00:10:56.519 --> 00:11:00.559 I worship, says every son, it's weekly. I give the first part 149 00:11:00.559 --> 00:11:03.320 of my money on the first day of the week to say God, you're 150 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:07.240 first in my life. And then he says, put aside something that means 151 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:09.240 it ought to be planned. You ought to think it through. You don't 152 00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:13.200 just give spontaneously. You think it through. And then it ought to be 153 00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:16.120 proportional. He says, the amount depends on how much you've earned. You 154 00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:18.080 didn't earn anything this week. You don't give anything. You earn a little, 155 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:20.679 you give a little, You earn a lot, you give a lot, 156 00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:24.360 and it's undesignated. Now let me just say this. We're gonna talk 157 00:11:24.360 --> 00:11:28.639 about five different funds today. This is probably the only one you've ever heard 158 00:11:28.679 --> 00:11:33.279 of. God wants you to give to this fund before you give or invest 159 00:11:33.399 --> 00:11:37.919 in any of the other funds. Why because he wants your heart more than 160 00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:41.960 anything else. He doesn't want your money, he wants what it represents. 161 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:46.279 And the most sensitive nerve in the body is the one that goes from the 162 00:11:46.320 --> 00:11:52.240 heart to the wallet. Why does God say do this? We'll look of 163 00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:58.000 the next verse. The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put 164 00:11:58.120 --> 00:12:03.480 God first in your life. Thank you so much for listening to Pastor Rick's 165 00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:07.799 Daily Hope. We've got some incredible news to share with you. A very 166 00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:15.159 generous friend has given a one hundred thousand dollars matching grant to this ministry all 167 00:12:15.240 --> 00:12:18.679 this month, every dollar you give to help Daily Hope share the certain hope 168 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:24.879 of Jesus around the world will be matched up to one hundred thousand dollars, 169 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:30.960 So twenty five dollars becomes fifty dollars, fifty becomes one hundred and five hundred 170 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:35.840 becomes a thousand. Whatever you give will be doubled by the matching grant up 171 00:12:35.919 --> 00:12:41.200 to one hundred thousand dollars, but only till midnight December thirty first, So 172 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:46.960 please contact us today. Go to Pastorick dot com or just call eight hundred 173 00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:50.399 six hundred five thousand and four. If you want to make your time in 174 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:54.799 prayer the best it can be, then you're going to want to get a 175 00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:58.720 copy of the brand new twenty twenty one Daily Hope Prayer Journal. This year's 176 00:12:58.759 --> 00:13:05.159 theme God's Great Adventure for You will help you tap into God's power and presence 177 00:13:05.399 --> 00:13:09.519 when you learn how to pray with passion and purpose. Covered in soft vegan 178 00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:15.840 leather with full color pages, this prayer journal has sections to pray for specific 179 00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:20.360 people and situations, as well as space to express your gratitude and personal prayer 180 00:13:20.360 --> 00:13:26.440 requests to God. Each page is beautifully designed and filled with inspiring Bible verses, 181 00:13:26.679 --> 00:13:31.440 photos, and artwork. The God's Great Adventure for You Prayer Journal is 182 00:13:31.480 --> 00:13:37.600 a spiritual growth tool designed to help you enjoy a vibrant prayer life, connect 183 00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:41.879 with God, and establish consistent daily prayer time. When you give a gift 184 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:46.840 to help daily hope take the certain hope of Jesus to people around the world, 185 00:13:48.039 --> 00:13:52.639 we'll send you the all new twenty twenty one Daily Hope Prayer Journal to 186 00:13:52.720 --> 00:13:56.320 say thanks. Quantities are limited, so don't wait. Call eight hundred and 187 00:13:56.399 --> 00:14:01.919 six hundred five zero zero four to get your Prairie Journal and have your gift 188 00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:07.000 matched up to one hundred thousand dollars, or you can visit pastorick dot com 189 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:11.279 that's eight hundred and six hundred five zero zero four or pastorick dot com you're 190 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:16.399 listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. Once again, here's Pastor Rick Warren. 191 00:14:20.039 --> 00:14:22.639 Now, the second purpose of God for your life is that you learn to 192 00:14:22.679 --> 00:14:26.120 love other people. He wants you first to learn to love him. You 193 00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:28.759 invest in the treasury fund where your treasure as your heart is. So he 194 00:14:28.759 --> 00:14:33.000 says, invest in the treasury fund, learn to love me. Now the 195 00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:35.600 second purpose of life has learned to love other people in God's family. And 196 00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:41.240 so number two, God wants you to invest in the mutual fund. The 197 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:46.159 mutual fund. It's God's mutual fund. And the Bible says in Romans twelve, 198 00:14:46.279 --> 00:14:52.200 Verse ten, love one another with mutual affection. Now, how do 199 00:14:52.279 --> 00:14:56.279 I invest in the mutual fund? How do I use some of my money 200 00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:58.200 to invest mutual fund. Here's how you do it. By using some of 201 00:14:58.240 --> 00:15:05.759 my money to encourage fellowship. To encourage fellowship, I use some of my 202 00:15:05.840 --> 00:15:09.919 money to express worship. And I use some of my money to encourage fellowship. 203 00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:15.440 And that means to show love to other believers. It means to use 204 00:15:15.480 --> 00:15:20.120 my money to build relationships to demonstrate love. Look at these verses. The 205 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:26.360 Bible says, share what you have with God's people who are in need show 206 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:33.159 hospitality. The next verse says, think of ways to encourage one another with 207 00:15:33.240 --> 00:15:37.279 outbursts of love and good deeds. He says, think aways, be creative, 208 00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:41.200 put some thought into it. Now listen. Anytime I give my money 209 00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:43.759 to God, it draws me closer to God. Anytime I give my money 210 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:48.720 to you, it draws me closer to you. When I give money to 211 00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:50.679 people in my small group, or I help and I invested in my small 212 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:56.720 group, I grow up closer to them. So anytime you go out and 213 00:15:56.720 --> 00:16:00.240 you buy a little nice card, you know, a hall or Dayspring card 214 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:03.000 or something, and you write a note of encouragement it and you give it 215 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:08.399 to somebody, you've just invested in the mutual Fund. Anytime you prepare a 216 00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:11.240 meal, you buy a meal and you take it over to somebody's house who 217 00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:17.320 is sick, you just invested in the mutual Fund. Anytime you open up 218 00:16:17.360 --> 00:16:21.360 your home and you have a small group over and you provide some refreshments and 219 00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:26.080 that costs you, you just invested in the mutual Fund. Anytime you provide 220 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:30.720 a babysitter for somebody who needs to go to church, or needs to go 221 00:16:30.759 --> 00:16:33.200 to a conference or a retreat, or something like that. You invested in 222 00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:40.519 the mutual fund when somebody you know and other believers is discouraged and they need 223 00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:41.840 somebody to talk to you, and you take them out to lunch and you 224 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:45.559 pay for lunch. You just invested in the mutual fund. Does this make 225 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:48.799 sense? You? See? You can give to God, and God says, 226 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:52.600 that's storing up treasure in heaven. But you can also give to other 227 00:16:52.639 --> 00:16:55.200 people and God says, when you do that as an act of love, 228 00:16:55.480 --> 00:16:59.879 it's like banking it in heaven. God says, it counts. It counts. 229 00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:04.440 He says, anytime you use your funds to show love to somebody else 230 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:08.440 in the family of God, whether it's anything, it could be maybe you 231 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:15.880 help somebody else financially in your small group whatever, you're actually investing in the 232 00:17:15.960 --> 00:17:18.960 mutual fund. Now, why should I do this? Why should I give 233 00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:22.640 to encourage fellowship? Well, look at these verses on the next page. 234 00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:29.519 The Bible says this service of giving not only helps the needs of God's people, 235 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:33.119 it also brings many more thanks to God, and it's proof of your 236 00:17:33.160 --> 00:17:37.079 faith. Now, of those three things there, it says, it meets 237 00:17:37.079 --> 00:17:41.119 a need, it brings thanks to God, and it proves that you believe 238 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:45.359 what you say believe. Many people will praise God because you obey the good 239 00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:49.359 News of Christ, the gospel you say you believe, and because you freely 240 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:55.000 share with them. Now you've heard me say it before that you can give 241 00:17:55.240 --> 00:18:00.039 without loving, but you cannot love without giving. When I first fell in 242 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:03.920 love with my wife, I could not keep money in my pocket. It 243 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:06.839 was like burning a hole in my pocket. Every time I turned around, 244 00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:10.200 I was buying or something. I see something on TV kitchen magician, I 245 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:12.920 gotta buy that. Man. You know, it didn't matter what it was. 246 00:18:14.559 --> 00:18:17.480 I just wanted to buy her stuff. Why, because I was in 247 00:18:17.559 --> 00:18:22.200 love with her. You cannot love without giving, and so when I give, 248 00:18:22.359 --> 00:18:26.759 it draws me closer to you. It draws me and it causes me 249 00:18:26.839 --> 00:18:30.680 to love you more. Also, it's a witness to other people. Notice 250 00:18:30.680 --> 00:18:37.400 this next verse. When you extend hospitality to Christian brothers and sisters, even 251 00:18:37.440 --> 00:18:44.039 when they're strangers, you make the faith visible. I wish I could tell 252 00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:47.599 you all the stories, but let me just read you. One guy in 253 00:18:47.640 --> 00:18:51.119 our church sent me this, He said, Pastor Rick, last Sunday morning. 254 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:55.720 A few guys from my men's small group had breakfast at the Pancake House 255 00:18:55.759 --> 00:19:00.880 in Anaheim before heading over to Angel Stadium for the service. When our waitress 256 00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:04.960 overheard that we were from Saddleback Church, she insisted on paying for our breakfast 257 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:10.160 herself. Now. When we asked her why, she said, well, 258 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:15.440 there's a couple from Saddleback that each year, all the time, and every 259 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:18.200 time they do, before they pay for their own bill, they request to 260 00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:22.400 pay the bill for two other random tables in the restaurant as an act of 261 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:26.480 love. She said, I don't know what got into you Saddleback people, 262 00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:32.440 but it's an inspiration to the rest of us. It's what we're drinking, 263 00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:36.279 that's it's what we're doing. That's why we want to be famous for. 264 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:41.319 We say, that's the church where they love each other, where they're generous 265 00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:45.279 with each other, where they take care of each other. These people over 266 00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:48.319 there at Saddleback Church, they're the most generous people in the whole world. 267 00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:53.720 Why, Because that's what God is like. It's a witness to other people. 268 00:19:53.799 --> 00:19:57.359 Not only that, it builds unity among believers. The next verse says 269 00:19:57.559 --> 00:20:03.039 how good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity. Now, 270 00:20:03.079 --> 00:20:07.079 there is enormous power in unity. You know, it's like that phrase, 271 00:20:07.160 --> 00:20:11.039 snowflakes are frail, but if enough of them stick together, they can 272 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:15.400 stop traffic. And if you can't do anything by yourself, and I can't 273 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:22.480 do anything by yourselves, together we can do something serious. This is Pastor 274 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:26.759 Rick's Daily Hope. We're so thankful that you've chosen to spend some time with 275 00:20:26.839 --> 00:20:30.519 us today. If you've missed any part of this broadcast, including portions we 276 00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:36.680 didn't have time for, just go to Pastorrick dot com and listen online. 277 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:40.440 Anytime. Rick will be right back to close out our time today. But 278 00:20:40.599 --> 00:20:44.559 first, if you want to make your time in prayer the best it can 279 00:20:44.599 --> 00:20:47.640 be, then you're going to want to get a copy of the brand new 280 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:52.759 twenty twenty one Daily Hope Prayer Journal. This year's theme, God's Great Adventure 281 00:20:52.839 --> 00:20:57.480 for You, will help you tap into God's power and presence when you learn 282 00:20:57.519 --> 00:21:03.559 how to pray with passion and purpose. Right now, here's Pastor Rick to 283 00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:07.079 tell you more. Do you ever feel like your prayers get stuck in a 284 00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:10.440 rut? Would you like to know what God told me to do when my 285 00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:12.279 prayer life got stuck in a rut? It was a time when I just 286 00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:15.359 felt like I was praying the same thing over and over and over. In 287 00:21:15.359 --> 00:21:18.279 fact, I was beginning to wonder if God was even answering my prayers or 288 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:22.240 even listening. Maybe you felt that way sometimes, or maybe you feel that 289 00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:26.480 way right now. So what did God tell me to do? Well, 290 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:30.279 here's what he told me. It was such a powerful way to re energize 291 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:33.519 my prayer life, and it was so simple that I want to pass it 292 00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:36.599 on to you. God told me to do this, He said, Rick, 293 00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:41.599 start writing down what you're saying to me, and then I want you 294 00:21:41.640 --> 00:21:45.559 to write down what I say to you. Write down what you say to 295 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:48.440 me, and then write down what I say to you. You see, 296 00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:53.400 it's really not that complicated. God just said I should start by writing down 297 00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:57.640 what I'm feeling, and then I should write down what he tells me after 298 00:21:57.680 --> 00:22:03.880 I've read his word. It's really just a form of journaling, and spiritual 299 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:10.119 journaling is a spiritual habit that will help your prayers stay fresh and effective. 300 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:12.759 If you've never tried it, I'm begging you try this for a week or 301 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:19.000 two and see if it doesn't reinvigorate your prayer life. Journaling has many many 302 00:22:19.319 --> 00:22:23.319 benefits to your spiritual life. It'll help you stay consistent in your prayers. 303 00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:29.640 It'll give you a permanent reminder of how God answers your prayers because you re've 304 00:22:29.640 --> 00:22:33.359 written them down. It shows how God is working in your life. You 305 00:22:33.359 --> 00:22:37.119 can go back and review it. It'll even help you worship God more and 306 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:41.079 more as you speak to him. God speaks to people who care enough to 307 00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:45.039 write it down. So write down what God tells you. But you've got 308 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:48.920 to have a place to do that. Now. I want to encourage you, 309 00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:52.519 and I want to help you take this simple step of learning this new 310 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:57.720 spiritual habit in your prayers, of writing down your prayers and writing down your 311 00:22:57.759 --> 00:23:02.720 prayer request. So what I did is I had my Daily Hope team create 312 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:07.240 a brand new spiritual prayer journal. It's got a real simple to follow format 313 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:11.839 that will help you put into practice God's wisdom that is found in Philippians four 314 00:23:11.880 --> 00:23:17.680 to six that says this, don't worry about anything. Instead, pray about 315 00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:22.440 everything, tell God what you need, and thank Him for all he has 316 00:23:22.480 --> 00:23:27.079 done. Those four things are part of the format of our prayer journal for 317 00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:33.279 this year. It's really cool. You're gonna love this tool covered in soft 318 00:23:33.400 --> 00:23:38.559 vegan leather with full color pages. This prayer journal has sections to pray for 319 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:45.440 specific people and situations, as well as space to express your gratitude and personal 320 00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:51.359 prayer requests to God. Each page is beautifully designed and filled with inspiring Bible 321 00:23:51.480 --> 00:23:56.039 versus photo work and artwork. The God's Great Adventure for You Prayer Journal is 322 00:23:56.079 --> 00:24:02.359 a spiritual growth tool designed to help you enjoy of vibrant prayer life, connect 323 00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:06.960 with the Lord, and establish a consistent daily prayer time. When you give 324 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:11.480 a gift to help daily hope take the certain hope of Jesus to people around 325 00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:15.599 the world, will send you the all new twenty twenty one Daily Hope Prayer 326 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:21.920 Journal to say thanks. Quantities are limited, so don't wait. Call eight 327 00:24:22.000 --> 00:24:26.839 hundred six hundred five thousand and four to get your prayer journal and have your 328 00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:32.599 gift matched up to one hundred thousand dollars, or you can visit Pastorick dot 329 00:24:32.640 --> 00:24:38.480 com that's eight hundred six hundred five thousand and four or pastorick dot com. 330 00:24:38.559 --> 00:24:44.119 Be sure to join us again next time as we look into God's word for 331 00:24:44.240 --> 00:24:48.720 our daily hope. This program is sponsored by pastor Ricks Daily hope and your 332 00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:51.599 generous financial support