WEBVTT 1 00:00:05.160 --> 00:00:09.000 Welcome Just hind Away Tagalog Sermon Podcast, your daily dose 2 00:00:09.039 --> 00:00:13.439 of inspiring, heartfelt tagalog sermons from different pastors and speakers 3 00:00:13.480 --> 00:00:16.480 all over the Philippines. We hope that this podcast finds 4 00:00:16.480 --> 00:00:22.800 you in good shape. And now here's your message. We 5 00:00:22.879 --> 00:00:27.359 are on our fourth week of our series Amazing Grace, 6 00:00:27.960 --> 00:00:32.880 and today we're gonna talk about something important. But before that, 7 00:00:33.439 --> 00:00:35.759 I want you to I'll give you a picture of 8 00:00:35.920 --> 00:00:40.479 two of the former wealthiest people on the planet. Okay, 9 00:00:40.560 --> 00:00:43.920 formerly these two are the most wealthy or the wealthy 10 00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:50.079 richest people on the planet. That's Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. Okay, 11 00:00:50.359 --> 00:00:53.200 you're an overshadow and set on Amazon, Jeff Bezos. But 12 00:00:53.560 --> 00:00:56.159 several years ago when they were the top two richest 13 00:00:56.200 --> 00:01:00.520 people on the planet, they they decide the donors of 14 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:04.200 Bill Gates, he decided when he stepped down from the 15 00:01:04.239 --> 00:01:08.560 CEO from from Microsoft, he decided to give at least 16 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:12.760 half or more than half of his wealth to his 17 00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:16.239 foundation in foundations as a million the Gates to fight 18 00:01:16.319 --> 00:01:21.079 against diseases, poverty and all these things. Okay, half of 19 00:01:21.120 --> 00:01:24.640 his wealth during that time, probably thirty billion. He donated 20 00:01:24.760 --> 00:01:28.079 thirty billion or half of his wealth and in Getsi. 21 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:32.560 Warrian Buffett now donator in a kalahate okay, so a 22 00:01:32.680 --> 00:01:38.439 Lakeninon Foundationila unfortunately go in the Pasama in coronaviruses and 23 00:01:38.519 --> 00:01:45.120 research in Ela. But can you imagine giving away thirty 24 00:01:45.159 --> 00:01:51.799 billion dollars thirty billion helen zerosion multiply money complete Philippine 25 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:57.640 pession and lacenon right to give away? Now what's my point? 26 00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:04.079 My point is this, it's easy to be extremely or 27 00:02:04.159 --> 00:02:09.719 extravagantly generous, to extravagantly give if you have tons and 28 00:02:09.840 --> 00:02:14.639 tons of money. Yes, you gave thirty billion Parama thirty 29 00:02:14.639 --> 00:02:19.439 plus billion Capana one so okay, land right nmam ubus 30 00:02:19.680 --> 00:02:25.159 is a lifetime more so okay kaisie Warren Buffett theminigankalahat. 31 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:31.680 They still have tens and dozens of billions of dollars left. Now, 32 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:39.120 question pettibam, what if okay? What is it possible for 33 00:02:39.240 --> 00:02:43.360 us to be like this, to be extravagant givers? If 34 00:02:43.400 --> 00:02:48.080 you don't have billions of dollars minus more than six 35 00:02:48.199 --> 00:02:53.039 zeros or seven zeros, you para kayaman and more now 36 00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:57.199 ivan Alan for zeros in Alan youm paramo? Is it 37 00:02:57.360 --> 00:03:03.479 still possible to be extravagant likely this people right parahmas 38 00:03:03.520 --> 00:03:08.080 mahira piata. If you don't have enough even for yourself, 39 00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:11.960 how can we be extravagant givers? Now that's we're gonna 40 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:16.039 talk about today. We're gonna talk about the grace of giving, 41 00:03:16.199 --> 00:03:20.000 because grace is not us, is beyond us. It's not 42 00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:23.400 our ability, it's God's ability. And we need to talk 43 00:03:23.400 --> 00:03:26.879 about the grace of giving and to be able to 44 00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:29.759 participate in the grace of giving. I want us to 45 00:03:29.919 --> 00:03:34.159 jump at the scripture. I believe this example from the 46 00:03:34.199 --> 00:03:38.240 Macedonian churches will help guide us if you want to 47 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:41.960 experience the grace of giving. It's found in Second Corinthians, 48 00:03:42.080 --> 00:03:46.360 chapter eight, verses one to seven. Second Corinthians, Chapter eight, 49 00:03:46.439 --> 00:03:50.039 verses one to seven. So let's read it. Verse one says, 50 00:03:50.439 --> 00:03:53.159 and now, brothers, we want you to know about the 51 00:03:53.199 --> 00:03:57.120 grace that God has given the Macedonian churches alt of 52 00:03:57.240 --> 00:04:03.479 the most severe trial there overflowing joy in their extreme poverty, 53 00:04:03.560 --> 00:04:07.680 welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they 54 00:04:07.719 --> 00:04:11.120 gave as much as they were able, and even beyond 55 00:04:11.159 --> 00:04:16.920 their ability, entirely on their own. They urgently pleaded with 56 00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:20.079 us for their privilege of sharing in the service to 57 00:04:20.160 --> 00:04:23.319 the saints. And they did not do as we expected, 58 00:04:23.680 --> 00:04:26.879 but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then 59 00:04:26.920 --> 00:04:29.959 to us, in keeping with God's will. So we urged titles, 60 00:04:30.079 --> 00:04:32.399 since he had earlier made the beginning, to bring also 61 00:04:32.439 --> 00:04:35.639 to completion this act of grace on your part. But 62 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:40.480 just as you excel in everything in Fate's speech, knowledge, earnestness, 63 00:04:40.519 --> 00:04:42.639 and in your love for us, see also that you 64 00:04:42.759 --> 00:04:46.720 excel in disgrace of giving. Lord, bless the preaching of 65 00:04:46.759 --> 00:04:51.199 your word. Help us, Lord, move in disgrace, that we 66 00:04:51.240 --> 00:04:55.800 will be able to give extravagantly beyond our ability, just 67 00:04:55.920 --> 00:05:00.600 like the Macedonian churches in Jesus name. Amen. Now to 68 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:05.360 understand the context of what the Macedonian churches did and 69 00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:08.920 why Paul was pleading with the churches, what happened was 70 00:05:09.040 --> 00:05:13.199 during this time there were two things happening, especially in 71 00:05:13.240 --> 00:05:16.959 the Jerusalem Church. The Jerusalem Church, the main church. Then 72 00:05:17.600 --> 00:05:23.360 Kay was undergoing extreme persecution, and also there was famine 73 00:05:23.399 --> 00:05:28.920 in the land so so Jerusalem, my Famina, so Walammaca 74 00:05:29.040 --> 00:05:33.879 in and because of the persecution, economically they were sabotage 75 00:05:34.120 --> 00:05:38.800 human believers Nawa and Trabajo Quinu coolog So the church 76 00:05:39.160 --> 00:05:44.399 had no money. The believers in Jerusalem Wallampea plus Wallapama, 77 00:05:44.439 --> 00:05:48.199 Billy yumamae Pera walamabilim paga in so they were in 78 00:05:48.279 --> 00:05:51.199 dire need. And so Paul what both did? He wrote 79 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:56.800 the churches, all the churches everywhere in Rome and particularly Gay. 80 00:05:56.879 --> 00:06:01.120 He wrote the church in Corinth, Okay, the church in 81 00:06:01.160 --> 00:06:05.839 Corinth was very wealthy. They were very charismatic. There apparently 82 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:11.959 mediuma gulusilla okadaminasic orange an daming correction and meaniviguinny Paul 83 00:06:12.319 --> 00:06:16.160 including this one. This is actually an admonition. It's like 84 00:06:16.240 --> 00:06:20.839 a correction to them, because he was saying, guys, they 85 00:06:20.920 --> 00:06:25.360 remember maritime collection. And I want you to take and 86 00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:29.720 see the example of the churches in Macedonia. Now, the 87 00:06:29.800 --> 00:06:36.279 Macedonian churches were composed of Philippi, Presolonica and Birea. Those 88 00:06:36.319 --> 00:06:41.199 three churches were like provincial churches. So Jerusalem was like 89 00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:44.600 the Manila church and the Macedonian church was like the 90 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:49.319 provincial church. Now, the problem with Macedonia. During this time, 91 00:06:49.639 --> 00:06:53.519 the Roman Empire took over their business. It was mainly 92 00:06:53.600 --> 00:06:58.240 known for mining. They had gold and silver mines which 93 00:06:58.279 --> 00:07:02.720 the Roman Empire took over a latition scenic Questern Laton, 94 00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:09.279 so main main economic in Genilla. Plus they also had 95 00:07:09.399 --> 00:07:16.240 copper and bronze melting places. Pero severely taxed Ia sovereign Taxpa. 96 00:07:16.519 --> 00:07:20.439 In other words, we are in Pera and churches in Macedonia. 97 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:26.720 And yet in spite of that, remember if if Paul 98 00:07:26.759 --> 00:07:31.680 wrote a letter asking for help to help Jerusalem, this 99 00:07:31.759 --> 00:07:33.160 is not to help Paul, this is to help the 100 00:07:33.240 --> 00:07:37.439 church in Jerusalem. It was the perfect excuse for the 101 00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:42.879 churches in Macedonia to tell Paul, Paul, I understand what's happening. Okay, 102 00:07:43.399 --> 00:07:47.000 in Indiana is a Jerusalem, but we have our own 103 00:07:47.079 --> 00:07:54.480 problems Pera. In right, it was the perfect excuse for 104 00:07:54.720 --> 00:07:58.600 the church in Macedonia to tell Paul, and maybe Paul 105 00:07:58.600 --> 00:08:05.399 would understand the opposite happened. It says they participated on 106 00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:12.480 their own, on their own. Lem I need even before 107 00:08:12.600 --> 00:08:17.759 Paul sent the letter Alumni Linga go Inila entirely on 108 00:08:17.839 --> 00:08:23.680 their own. They gave even beyond their ability. And that's 109 00:08:23.720 --> 00:08:29.120 called the grace of giving, the grace of giving. Now 110 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:31.480 let me ask you, how many of you want to 111 00:08:31.480 --> 00:08:34.600 be used by God in this capacity to give beyond 112 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:39.279 your ability. Okay, how can we experience and participate in 113 00:08:39.399 --> 00:08:44.559 disgrace of giving? Well, I believe the key verse to 114 00:08:44.639 --> 00:08:49.360 this passage is found in verse five. The key verse 115 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:51.759 is found in verse five. And then I'll make a 116 00:08:51.799 --> 00:08:56.919 couple more support statements to these key verse, but I'll 117 00:08:56.960 --> 00:09:00.720 go through it in reverse. So the first key to 118 00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:04.120 the grace of giving found in verse five. Okay, it 119 00:09:04.200 --> 00:09:08.200 says here, grace of giving begins as you give yourself 120 00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:11.000 to the Lord. What does the scripture say? And they 121 00:09:11.039 --> 00:09:14.840 did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves 122 00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:18.279 first to the Lord and to us in keeping with 123 00:09:18.360 --> 00:09:23.240 God's will. So they gave themselves first to the Lord. See, 124 00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:29.679 giving is not a money issue. It is a heart issue. 125 00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:33.200 When we understand that it's not our it's not our 126 00:09:33.240 --> 00:09:37.759 bad accounts, but it's our heart accounts that is more important. 127 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:45.000 The Macedonians understood this, understood that everything they had belonged 128 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:48.519 to the Lord. When you give yourselves fully to God 129 00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:54.720 first to God, Okay, that means all that they are 130 00:09:55.440 --> 00:10:00.440 and all that they have belongs to the Lord. Okay, 131 00:10:00.720 --> 00:10:04.600 they understood. And once you have given yourself to the Lord. 132 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:10.559 It is easy to give everything else or anything else, right, 133 00:10:12.440 --> 00:10:18.759 because if he owns one hundred percent, you see your 134 00:10:18.960 --> 00:10:23.840 your wallet. Your wallet is an extension of your heart. 135 00:10:25.919 --> 00:10:29.399 If your heart belongs to the Lord, everything else about 136 00:10:29.440 --> 00:10:32.639 you belongs to the Lord. But if your heart is 137 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:36.080 not fully belongs to the Lord, then guess what. It 138 00:10:36.120 --> 00:10:39.159 will be hard to give anything. It will be hard 139 00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:45.440 to give some things. So it's an issue of lordship. First. Now, question, 140 00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:52.399 if God owns everything one hundred percent, how much is 141 00:10:52.480 --> 00:10:56.799 left for you to own? This is not a trick question, 142 00:10:57.159 --> 00:11:01.759 mat Lantau. If God owns one hundred hundred percent, how 143 00:11:01.879 --> 00:11:09.399 much belongs to you? Not that zero? Right? Zero? Everything 144 00:11:09.480 --> 00:11:20.879 belongs to God. Now you may think bad news, Lord, No, 145 00:11:21.080 --> 00:11:26.440 everything belongs to the Lord. The earth belongs to him 146 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:33.600 and everything in it. Yes, yes, Osamasa, everything in it taio. 147 00:11:35.360 --> 00:11:41.360 Everything belongs to the Lord Walla Parasaten. That's why, if 148 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:45.480 you understand this, it's so easy. Hey, Lord Palae. Now 149 00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:47.600 you may think that is a bad news, but I 150 00:11:47.639 --> 00:11:51.399 believe it's a good news. You know why, if everything 151 00:11:51.440 --> 00:11:55.399 belongs to him and nothing belongs to me, then I 152 00:11:55.480 --> 00:11:58.519 am not the source. He then is the source. We 153 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:04.440 are just two words. We are just managers. Papagai lord 154 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:09.399 a command the lord in right she lord them along 155 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:14.519 my source. So my circumstances does not determine my giving. 156 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:20.440 In fact, Baliktan, you're giving many times determines your circumstances. 157 00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:26.600 And that's why it's so important for us to understand giving. 158 00:12:27.159 --> 00:12:31.360 In fact, Martin Luther said this, when we are saved, 159 00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:34.360 when we are converted, there are three conversions that need 160 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:38.480 to happen, first with our head and our heart, head 161 00:12:38.960 --> 00:12:42.080 and our wallet. And the hardness of this to convert 162 00:12:42.600 --> 00:12:52.200 is our wallet reformation Palan Naint Indianna. Why because your 163 00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:59.360 wallet is actually a theological statement. It determines who you worship. 164 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:06.120 It tells you what is in your heart. Your wallet 165 00:13:06.440 --> 00:13:11.279 is always connected with your heart or where your treasure is, 166 00:13:12.039 --> 00:13:18.759 where your heart will be. Also, your wallet determines who 167 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:24.159 is your source. Your wallet will determine who is your source. 168 00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:28.879 You see when when when we talk about wanting or 169 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:33.720 healing someone, you okay, when we when we pray for 170 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:37.200 someone to get healed, who is the source of healing? 171 00:13:38.320 --> 00:13:43.480 See Jesus right, Hell, see Jesus not Hell right? When 172 00:13:43.559 --> 00:13:48.039 someone is being you know when someone oppressed demon demon? Uh, 173 00:13:48.279 --> 00:13:53.799 you know the oppressed nodemonial when we cast out demons? Right, 174 00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:59.559 whose authority and whose name? Okay do we use see 175 00:13:59.639 --> 00:14:05.679 Jesus us right? But when it comes to money, when 176 00:14:05.720 --> 00:14:09.039 it comes to money and syna being the Lord became 177 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:22.200 becaming wallet more became suddenly O Lord source, it's hard 178 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:24.200 and we have to deal I have to deal with that. 179 00:14:25.200 --> 00:14:29.000 The moment we think it's ours, the moment we think 180 00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:32.399 we own it, that's when the problem starts. Take a long, Lord. 181 00:14:32.440 --> 00:14:36.000 But and you have to remember. If God is the 182 00:14:36.039 --> 00:14:40.000 source and he asked you to do something, he is 183 00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:43.799 a benevolent god. My plan is the Lord Mega Goa 184 00:14:43.840 --> 00:14:52.360 wins the Lord time and time again. God has proven himself. Listen. 185 00:14:54.440 --> 00:14:59.600 God is the only source that can supply everything you 186 00:14:59.639 --> 00:15:05.639 would need to accomplish His purpose and his desires for you. 187 00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:08.799 You cannot do it on your own. Many times will 188 00:15:08.840 --> 00:15:13.200 limit ourselves with our circumstance, with our bank account. Itulan 189 00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:19.200 pakoy hanko hang gandhi to the lamb it winko. But 190 00:15:19.360 --> 00:15:26.639 gay Lord Iba lage tasabina, this is my plan for you, Lord, 191 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:30.240 how can this be? Abraham? You will be a father 192 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:39.000 of many nations. Right, Gideon, you will be a mighty warrior. 193 00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:42.679 I'm the least and the weakest Moses. You will deliver 194 00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:46.840 the people of Israel out of Egypt. I can't even speak. 195 00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:51.919 If we just limit ourselves with our circumstance, we will 196 00:15:51.960 --> 00:15:56.600 never do anything. But God as the source saying, hey, you, 197 00:15:56.840 --> 00:16:01.360 circumstances will not determine my plan and my purpose for you. 198 00:16:02.279 --> 00:16:04.919 But it's the other way around. My plans and purpose 199 00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:11.879 will determine your circumstance. That's why it's important to give 200 00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:19.759 yourself first to the Lord, and it's you're not limited 201 00:16:19.799 --> 00:16:24.320 by your bank account or your wall. I remember when 202 00:16:24.960 --> 00:16:30.559 Sina uh Ian building nothing in phase one, the first 203 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:37.240 building okay in BGC, the Ford Katapana Market. Uh. When 204 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:42.519 that was being built, okay uh, I was newly married 205 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:45.159 with my wife. We just have one baby, sit Danny 206 00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:49.440 baby balan On, and we were you know, not full time. 207 00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:53.440 We were you know, upstart bagging business man. My wife 208 00:16:53.480 --> 00:16:58.279 was a dentist and so we were just making ends 209 00:16:58.320 --> 00:17:03.960 meet a little over but we had we we gave 210 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:09.559 in faith for the building project more than our means. Lord, 211 00:17:09.599 --> 00:17:11.680 we don't know how this will come. But this is 212 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:14.839 the money that This is the amount that God told 213 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:18.039 us to give, Lord, laving capacity to do this, but 214 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:20.440 we'll give it in faith. And so in the middle 215 00:17:20.480 --> 00:17:24.920 of that, you know, we we decided we had an 216 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:27.880 old car. We were using an old car. It was 217 00:17:27.880 --> 00:17:32.839 our batmobile Malasha okay, but sometimes naming maintenance ak Lana 218 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:37.279 and so Abina me and we we just decided, okay, 219 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:41.279 we want to participate. We will sell this car and 220 00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:45.359 give the proceeds for the building project. So that means 221 00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:47.960 for us, okay, we'll ham in transportation to the new baby, 222 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:51.960 will just commute and all of these things. But it 223 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:56.400 was never really galunaman vinee goo to Parakai, Lord, No, 224 00:17:56.440 --> 00:18:00.720 it was just we were just obeying because it is 225 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:05.720 not it did not belong to us, right and so 226 00:18:05.880 --> 00:18:08.680 bin again Amen, it was part of that. But you 227 00:18:08.720 --> 00:18:11.920 know it's a God. Six months later or something like that, 228 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:16.279 seed money came in for us to buy a second 229 00:18:16.279 --> 00:18:20.759 hand car, actually a van made the year after so 230 00:18:20.839 --> 00:18:23.240 much my lacking van, secondhand van to be able to 231 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:27.960 for our growing family give my classic telegacy. Lord. But 232 00:18:28.119 --> 00:18:34.720 we gave that not expecting that in return peral gonna generous. 233 00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:42.119 The Lord God is generous. God is so generous, and 234 00:18:42.119 --> 00:18:45.839 that's why it's so important for us to understand the 235 00:18:45.880 --> 00:18:50.519 grace of giving begins when you give first yourself to 236 00:18:50.599 --> 00:18:54.599 the Lord. It begins there. If you cannot give yourself 237 00:18:54.640 --> 00:18:56.960 to the Lord, then it's going to be hard for 238 00:18:57.000 --> 00:19:02.359 you to give, to be hard. But once you understand that, 239 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:09.160 then it will change your perspective because your grace of 240 00:19:09.240 --> 00:19:15.960 giving then becomes a privilege, not an obligation. Sometimes, especially 241 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:20.240 growing up in a religious environment, we know that giving 242 00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:26.359 is an obligation. Kella coins moo or then Limon Pizzo 243 00:19:26.519 --> 00:19:31.920 ten twenty whatever began a one hundred persons genus canon 244 00:19:33.240 --> 00:19:36.319 at least that's my thinking, and a religious community in fact, 245 00:19:37.599 --> 00:19:41.519 I'm just I'm just reminded. Last week, you know, I 246 00:19:41.559 --> 00:19:48.640 attended the wedding of my nephew, okay, and while there, 247 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:52.880 it was a it was a church in Bambanga, so 248 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:57.440 we were there while going on and manamen, okay, these 249 00:19:57.480 --> 00:20:01.200 were some of the ninas and they flew in from 250 00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:04.799 all over Okay. Some of them were British and some 251 00:20:04.920 --> 00:20:13.319 of them were Baa Rolls, Royce Sabik. I think so 252 00:20:13.400 --> 00:20:18.720 when the offering back came the big isla, the l 253 00:20:18.799 --> 00:20:24.880 one twenty pesos sabi one hundred pesos. Don't know but 254 00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:29.519 they But I'm not judging then, I'm just saying, if 255 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:33.319 our minds are set now, this belongs to me. Whatever 256 00:20:33.400 --> 00:20:37.920 I give to the lords Lord, that will be our 257 00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:42.839 mindset right, Because it's an obligation, I'm a k do something, 258 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:46.960 so I've done my deed, okay. But if it's the 259 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:49.599 other way around, if we give first to the Lord, 260 00:20:50.119 --> 00:20:56.039 it's not an obligation, it's a privilege. Different people give, 261 00:20:56.279 --> 00:21:04.400 different give have different reasons why they give. Right, need attack, 262 00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:10.640 shelter and an eyes and sappharirah. They gave para takaham vina, 263 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:16.880 I'm so generous. In fact, some people give for the fortune. 264 00:21:17.519 --> 00:21:22.279 Some people give for the fame. Some people give for 265 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:28.200 the power. Yeah, some people give just to play the game. Mhm. 266 00:21:29.079 --> 00:21:39.400 Some Well, let me tell you. The massive deonience absolutely 267 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:44.440 made it clear that our giving does not depend on 268 00:21:44.599 --> 00:21:49.920 our circumstances. It depends on your relationship with Jesus Christ. 269 00:21:52.359 --> 00:21:56.480 It depends on that. What is your relationship with God? 270 00:21:57.640 --> 00:22:02.680 Are you doing things to earn His favorite or are 271 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:06.799 you doing things because you have already had the favor 272 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:13.440 of God. You already have the favor of God. You see, 273 00:22:14.200 --> 00:22:19.279 the grace of giving lies in the fact that we 274 00:22:19.400 --> 00:22:25.880 have been forgiven. That we have been forgiven. In fact, 275 00:22:25.880 --> 00:22:29.839 I made this like a play of words. The fact 276 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:33.799 that God has four given us paves the way for 277 00:22:34.119 --> 00:22:40.839 us to give four others. Jesus put it this way. 278 00:22:41.079 --> 00:22:47.079 He who is forgiven much loves much. The only way 279 00:22:47.119 --> 00:22:50.039 for you to be able to give is to know 280 00:22:50.799 --> 00:22:56.599 how deep we were in the pit. I'm not talking 281 00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:59.720 about how much money you have, but your life will 282 00:22:59.720 --> 00:23:04.799 be in the pits until you have experienced the death 283 00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:10.839 of God's love and forgiveness for you. If you have 284 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:14.680 not experienced that, then things will be okay. I'm doing 285 00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:17.920 God a favor instead of Lord, Thank you for saving me, 286 00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:25.720 Thank you for forgiving me. Thank you for setting my life, 287 00:23:25.799 --> 00:23:29.119 turning my life upside down. If you know where you 288 00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:33.240 came from, then you will just be grateful for the 289 00:23:33.319 --> 00:23:40.119 privilege to participate. You'll be grateful. In fact, the Macedonians 290 00:23:40.119 --> 00:23:45.759 did that Sabil entirely on their own Diput the Madathing 291 00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:51.960 letter Nepal Sail Paul excited m mcbiguym Perah to participate. 292 00:23:52.599 --> 00:23:56.400 We're so excited. I wish all of you were like that. 293 00:23:57.720 --> 00:24:04.720 Bagna okay baga may needna kell and i'm a Kanduba 294 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:08.880 when you look at their circumstance with Aman, but yet 295 00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:14.880 their hearts were so overflowing with love and grace and forgiveness. 296 00:24:16.799 --> 00:24:21.880 The best motive forgiving is the goodness of God and 297 00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:24.319 the grace of God in your life. In my life, 298 00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:28.240 I remember this. There was when we were when we 299 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:32.599 planted a church in U the Tepuna in Up. There's 300 00:24:32.680 --> 00:24:37.079 one student who radically saved, but he was dirt poor. 301 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:44.440 He was studying up, had no candid life life, real 302 00:24:44.440 --> 00:24:47.799 life candidatesha, because he was they were so poor. He 303 00:24:47.880 --> 00:24:51.640 was so bright, but he was so poor that he 304 00:24:51.759 --> 00:24:55.000 did not eat. He only ate probably two to three 305 00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:59.319 times a week as lampera and young little stipend that 306 00:24:59.400 --> 00:25:02.359 he got from Up he would give to his two brothers, 307 00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:06.720 younger brothers. I mean we knew that. I mean we 308 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:09.119 tried to help every now and then, but that's lifestyle 309 00:25:10.000 --> 00:25:13.920 then Asha. So what happened to us during we had 310 00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:17.920 our first youth camp and it will take on two 311 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:22.200 thousand or two thousand, five hundred vessel way back then. 312 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:26.160 And so they had all kinds of things, tutorials whatever 313 00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:30.680 to raise money. And so Shahidishama and a forced fasting 314 00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:33.680 Shah for a couple of weeks. I mean in the 315 00:25:33.799 --> 00:25:40.400 interpersonal manapero ina and paraa. Okay, so because we challenge 316 00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:43.000 them by faith, Benny students, you know, I said, a 317 00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:45.119 lot of them pro province and all of these things. 318 00:25:45.759 --> 00:25:51.680 But saka alamna medium situation. We know. And so what 319 00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:57.599 happened was na amount amount ready for ready for the 320 00:25:57.640 --> 00:26:02.680 youth camp. But something happened, Okay, a week before the 321 00:26:03.160 --> 00:26:08.039 camp was supposed to happen. Nakaranam used that two or 322 00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:10.240 three of his final example will be on that day, 323 00:26:10.920 --> 00:26:18.160 three days on. So in Punta, he was an engineering 324 00:26:18.200 --> 00:26:21.599 student and all of these things MOA and scholarship, all 325 00:26:21.640 --> 00:26:24.400 of these things, and so he decided, I won't go, 326 00:26:25.079 --> 00:26:30.039 but I want to give the registration fee to others. 327 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:37.440 Nah and some of our student leaders were saying, why 328 00:26:37.480 --> 00:26:43.279 don't you just give it back to him? But we know, 329 00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:50.359 we said as leaders, you know what, don't deprive him, 330 00:26:51.559 --> 00:26:56.119 don't deprive him of this grace of giving, because this 331 00:26:56.400 --> 00:27:00.759 is an opportunity for him to be blessed. Remember, it's 332 00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:04.920 more blessed to give than to receive. This is an 333 00:27:05.000 --> 00:27:13.000 opportunity for God to bless him abundantly. He gave beyond 334 00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:19.039 his ability. You know what as he grew up. I 335 00:27:19.119 --> 00:27:22.920 think now he's graduated and he's an expat in another 336 00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:27.920 country earning lots of money. But he understood this and 337 00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:31.519 it all began because of his relationship with God. I 338 00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:35.440 don't think he would do that if it's not if 339 00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:39.079 you don't have a relationship with God, right, hindikakuma in 340 00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:43.759 and then he he began will and say bah, that's 341 00:27:43.799 --> 00:27:48.000 called the grace of giving, the grace of giving. And 342 00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:52.920 finally have to remember this that we should be grace 343 00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:56.599 of giving flows. It will flow, andre Yan, as we 344 00:27:56.720 --> 00:28:03.160 become channels of God's blessings, not containers of God's blessings. 345 00:28:03.480 --> 00:28:09.440 There's a difference between containers and channels. Don't just become 346 00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:11.759 a display of God's grace. Wow, I think you know 347 00:28:11.880 --> 00:28:16.839 Aani lord happy alcohol alo be a channel of God's grace. 348 00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:22.480 You know one of don Sims, one of our you know, 349 00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:26.119 one of a man of faith okay, who was teaching 350 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:31.079 us before leadership trainings said this Sabrina, God gave us 351 00:28:31.240 --> 00:28:37.200 two hands, one hand to receive and one hand to give. 352 00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:41.599 And as the money will flow through you, there will 353 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:49.960 be plenty left for you. Channels lamtayo, but pinapadan William 354 00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:56.160 blessing the Lord, sayo Mama e wan shah kanya something 355 00:28:56.240 --> 00:29:00.839 to bless you with. Right, But if we are just containers, 356 00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:08.079 Maawaian flow, but sooner or later Indian flow, just like 357 00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:10.599 the dead sea, you know the dead sea. Right. Dead 358 00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:15.119 sea is not only the lowest place on the planet, 359 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:18.119 but that's the reason why it's called the dead seas 360 00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:22.240 because everything flows, everything goes there and nothing flows out. 361 00:29:23.039 --> 00:29:32.599 That's why it's the saltiest, most buoyant water coppedicant because 362 00:29:32.599 --> 00:29:36.559 of the buoyant sea. Of course, for the ladies and 363 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:42.359 don't guard have a have a it's it's a Hebrew 364 00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:51.799 for love, facial whatever. So you guidan is a dead sea, 365 00:29:52.839 --> 00:29:58.079 yumana put takes a dead sea. Minerals daun anyway, that's 366 00:29:58.119 --> 00:30:05.000 a side. But the point is b channels and Hindia 367 00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:07.880 dema for flow massas takna right and sooner or later 368 00:30:08.119 --> 00:30:15.960 Hindian Ema for flow yam listen. Our lives, all of 369 00:30:16.039 --> 00:30:23.119 our lives belong to God. Anyway. He created us, and 370 00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:26.960 he redeemed us and bought us. Someone said that we 371 00:30:27.039 --> 00:30:34.599 are doubly his right, doubly his Let him be the source. 372 00:30:34.759 --> 00:30:39.680 Give yourself first to the Lord. That is called the 373 00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:44.559 grace of giving, the grace of giving, because when you 374 00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:47.160 do that, all things will abound. As it says in 375 00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:51.039 Chapter nine, verse eight, it says, and God is able. 376 00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:55.400 Say that God is able. God will make all things 377 00:30:55.440 --> 00:31:00.519 abound for you, so that you always, being sufficient all 378 00:31:00.680 --> 00:31:04.519 that you need in all things, you may have abundance 379 00:31:04.640 --> 00:31:08.000 in every good work. If you give first yourself to 380 00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:12.519 the Lord. Guess what will happen. Sometimes some people they 381 00:31:12.599 --> 00:31:21.680 gave one time and work it sabito in all having 382 00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:24.640 abundance in all that you need, you will abound in 383 00:31:24.839 --> 00:31:32.960 every good work. Marontal, my Australia, my Corona, whatever, whatever else. 384 00:31:34.599 --> 00:31:37.920 That's why it's so important for us to live first, 385 00:31:38.279 --> 00:31:41.000 giving ourselves to the Lord and being directed by him. 386 00:31:42.759 --> 00:31:46.920 How and how much and how will we give? I'm 387 00:31:46.960 --> 00:31:50.359 not saying give everything away. I'm saying be directed by God. 388 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:55.960 That's lordship, Shanna, the direct on purpose more and as 389 00:31:56.039 --> 00:31:59.799 you do, so you'll be able to participate as a 390 00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:06.599 privilege of sharing in disgrace of giving. Amen. You see, 391 00:32:06.680 --> 00:32:16.240 God's grace makes you exceedingly rich. You are exceedingly rich 392 00:32:19.079 --> 00:32:25.839 mont to Adiba. If not here the life to come, 393 00:32:28.160 --> 00:32:30.839 we can give to others because we have been recipients 394 00:32:30.880 --> 00:32:38.599 of God's grace. You see, giving finds its fullest, fullest meaning. 395 00:32:41.559 --> 00:32:45.799 Giving finds its fullest meaning when we do it with 396 00:32:45.960 --> 00:32:49.640 the motive of enriching others. We don't give parah, I 397 00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:53.519 say it's more blessed now, so I feel good, or 398 00:32:53.720 --> 00:32:56.319 I will you know, I'll be blessed by God. No, 399 00:32:57.319 --> 00:33:01.000 the fullest expression of the grace of giving is when 400 00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:03.559 your motive Lord, I want this person to be enriched. 401 00:33:04.039 --> 00:33:06.319