WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:03.879
<v Speaker 1>Hi, I'm Rick Warren, and Merry Christmas. Christmas is going

2
00:00:03.960 --> 00:00:06.120
<v Speaker 1>to be here very soon. And Jesus said in Luke

3
00:00:06.200 --> 00:00:08.640
<v Speaker 1>fourteen twenty three, go out into the highways in the

4
00:00:08.640 --> 00:00:11.640
<v Speaker 1>countryside and urge everybody you find to come in so

5
00:00:11.679 --> 00:00:14.039
<v Speaker 1>that my house will be full. Who are you thinking

6
00:00:14.119 --> 00:00:17.199
<v Speaker 1>of to bring to your church? Whoever it is. I

7
00:00:17.280 --> 00:00:20.399
<v Speaker 1>want to challenge you to be a light at Christmas

8
00:00:20.640 --> 00:00:23.399
<v Speaker 1>and invite them to services at your church.

9
00:00:26.600 --> 00:00:30.359
<v Speaker 2>Hello, and welcome to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. This is

10
00:00:30.440 --> 00:00:33.439
<v Speaker 2>the Bible teaching ministry of Rick Warren. Hey, we're so

11
00:00:33.560 --> 00:00:37.560
<v Speaker 2>glad you've joined us today. We're continuing a powerful series

12
00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:42.560
<v Speaker 2>called radicalis Developing Spiritual Roots. And in this series, Rick

13
00:00:42.600 --> 00:00:44.880
<v Speaker 2>will show you how to grow deep in your faith,

14
00:00:45.079 --> 00:00:49.240
<v Speaker 2>stay grounded in God's word, and become everything He created

15
00:00:49.320 --> 00:00:52.039
<v Speaker 2>you to be. Let's join Rick right now for the

16
00:00:52.039 --> 00:00:55.479
<v Speaker 2>final part of a message called Radical Generosity.

17
00:00:56.520 --> 00:01:00.880
<v Speaker 1>Now, the greatest miracle is not this offering, not at all.

18
00:01:01.000 --> 00:01:02.840
<v Speaker 1>It's not even the amount of the offering. That's not

19
00:01:02.920 --> 00:01:05.840
<v Speaker 1>the miracle. The miracle is what takes place in you

20
00:01:06.359 --> 00:01:09.040
<v Speaker 1>and in me and everybody else who had a little

21
00:01:09.079 --> 00:01:11.280
<v Speaker 1>part in it, whether it was big, little, medium or anything.

22
00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:13.640
<v Speaker 1>Anybody had a part in this. The miracle is what

23
00:01:13.760 --> 00:01:17.599
<v Speaker 1>takes place in us because every time I do radical

24
00:01:17.680 --> 00:01:20.079
<v Speaker 1>generosity with my life and again I'm not just talking

25
00:01:20.079 --> 00:01:24.200
<v Speaker 1>about money. When I'm radically generous with my attention and

26
00:01:24.239 --> 00:01:26.799
<v Speaker 1>I listen to my kids or I listen to somebody

27
00:01:26.840 --> 00:01:30.879
<v Speaker 1>and hurt, when I'm radically generous with my sympathy and

28
00:01:30.920 --> 00:01:33.120
<v Speaker 1>I say, yeah, I understand that that makes sense. When

29
00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:35.719
<v Speaker 1>I'm radically generous with my time and I don't have

30
00:01:35.799 --> 00:01:38.120
<v Speaker 1>time to give it to you, but I help you out.

31
00:01:38.280 --> 00:01:41.120
<v Speaker 1>And when I'm radically generous with my service, and when

32
00:01:41.159 --> 00:01:44.159
<v Speaker 1>I'm radically generous with my compliments, and when I'm radically

33
00:01:44.200 --> 00:01:49.280
<v Speaker 1>generous with praise, and I'm radically generous with forgiveness for

34
00:01:49.319 --> 00:01:51.159
<v Speaker 1>people who've hurt me, and I just forgiven as they

35
00:01:51.159 --> 00:01:54.000
<v Speaker 1>forget it. Don't worry about it, blow it off, you,

36
00:01:54.120 --> 00:01:58.680
<v Speaker 1>let it go. What that does is an amazing transformation

37
00:01:58.879 --> 00:02:01.400
<v Speaker 1>in you. There are five things that happen. Let me

38
00:02:01.439 --> 00:02:02.480
<v Speaker 1>just give them to you. I'm not even going to

39
00:02:02.519 --> 00:02:04.840
<v Speaker 1>talk much about them on the back of your outline.

40
00:02:04.920 --> 00:02:08.319
<v Speaker 1>The results of radical generosity living a life of generosity.

41
00:02:08.400 --> 00:02:13.960
<v Speaker 1>Number one, it increases my love for Jesus. It increases

42
00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:19.080
<v Speaker 1>my love for Jesus, because giving is an act of love,

43
00:02:20.560 --> 00:02:22.719
<v Speaker 1>the Bible says in verses eight and nine. A second

44
00:02:22.759 --> 00:02:26.400
<v Speaker 1>crienty eight, Paul's talking to the church in Corinth. He says,

45
00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:29.400
<v Speaker 1>just as you excel and everything else, He says, you

46
00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:31.639
<v Speaker 1>guys are really good at a lot of stuff, just

47
00:02:31.680 --> 00:02:34.439
<v Speaker 1>as you excel in everything else. In faith, he said,

48
00:02:34.439 --> 00:02:37.800
<v Speaker 1>you excel in speech and knowledge, even in complete earnings,

49
00:02:37.919 --> 00:02:40.360
<v Speaker 1>even in your love for Us, he said, see also

50
00:02:40.919 --> 00:02:45.000
<v Speaker 1>that you excel in the grace of giving. He says, No,

51
00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:47.360
<v Speaker 1>I'm not commanding you. Why because commanding is not what

52
00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:50.360
<v Speaker 1>God wants. I just want to test the sincerity of

53
00:02:50.400 --> 00:02:54.199
<v Speaker 1>your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others,

54
00:02:54.319 --> 00:02:57.639
<v Speaker 1>he said, I want to test the sincerity of your love.

55
00:02:58.199 --> 00:03:01.439
<v Speaker 1>Every time you give, every time I give. You're generous

56
00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:04.439
<v Speaker 1>with anything in your life. It does two things. It

57
00:03:04.520 --> 00:03:08.879
<v Speaker 1>proves your love for Jesus, and two it strengthens It

58
00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:13.840
<v Speaker 1>increases your love for Jesus. I used to see this bumpersticker.

59
00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:15.680
<v Speaker 1>You don't see it much anymore, but I used to

60
00:03:15.719 --> 00:03:17.400
<v Speaker 1>laugh when I see it. Said, you know, if you

61
00:03:17.479 --> 00:03:22.840
<v Speaker 1>love Jesus, tithe any fool can honk. Well, it's true.

62
00:03:22.879 --> 00:03:24.759
<v Speaker 1>He's just saying, you know, put your money where your

63
00:03:24.800 --> 00:03:30.039
<v Speaker 1>mouth is. The Bible says Jesus said, where your treasure is,

64
00:03:30.520 --> 00:03:34.080
<v Speaker 1>your heart will be also, so wherever you want your

65
00:03:34.120 --> 00:03:36.479
<v Speaker 1>heart to be. I'm telling you this, Invest a little

66
00:03:36.520 --> 00:03:39.560
<v Speaker 1>in it. You know, you probably couldn't care less about

67
00:03:39.639 --> 00:03:44.240
<v Speaker 1>Microsoft unless you own stock in Microsoft. Then you cared

68
00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:48.520
<v Speaker 1>extremely about it. If you want to care about general motors,

69
00:03:48.639 --> 00:03:50.759
<v Speaker 1>put some money into general motors. Guess what you'll start

70
00:03:50.759 --> 00:03:54.719
<v Speaker 1>caring about it. You know, whatever you invest in. You

71
00:03:54.759 --> 00:03:56.680
<v Speaker 1>invest in a political party, all of a sudden, you

72
00:03:56.719 --> 00:03:59.759
<v Speaker 1>start caring about the political party. You invest in a

73
00:03:59.840 --> 00:04:02.280
<v Speaker 1>project or ministry, all of a sudden, you start caring

74
00:04:02.280 --> 00:04:05.080
<v Speaker 1>about that ministry. Where your money is, your heart is.

75
00:04:05.879 --> 00:04:09.080
<v Speaker 1>And when I give myself to Christ, it makes me

76
00:04:09.240 --> 00:04:13.000
<v Speaker 1>love him more Number two, and not only increases my

77
00:04:13.039 --> 00:04:17.480
<v Speaker 1>love for Jesus, it makes me like Jesus. It makes

78
00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:21.240
<v Speaker 1>me more like Jesus. I become more like him. Every

79
00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:24.079
<v Speaker 1>time I give, it breaks the grip of materialism in

80
00:04:24.120 --> 00:04:26.959
<v Speaker 1>my life. And every time I give, my heart grows bigger.

81
00:04:27.160 --> 00:04:30.199
<v Speaker 1>And every time I give, I become more like Jesus.

82
00:04:30.399 --> 00:04:34.920
<v Speaker 1>Why because who's the master example of generosity, Jesus Christ.

83
00:04:35.480 --> 00:04:38.920
<v Speaker 1>The Bible says in the next verse, verse nine, you

84
00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:43.000
<v Speaker 1>are familiar with the generosity of our master Jesus Christ.

85
00:04:43.959 --> 00:04:47.240
<v Speaker 1>Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us,

86
00:04:47.439 --> 00:04:50.000
<v Speaker 1>circle for us. He gave it all away for us.

87
00:04:50.279 --> 00:04:55.160
<v Speaker 1>In one stroke, he became poor and we became rich.

88
00:04:55.199 --> 00:04:59.079
<v Speaker 1>Obviously he's talking about spiritual wealth there, spiritual riches, enrichment.

89
00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:02.560
<v Speaker 1>What's he talking to here? Jesus Christ had it all.

90
00:05:02.600 --> 00:05:05.040
<v Speaker 1>He's God, He's the son of God. He's in heaven

91
00:05:05.240 --> 00:05:08.399
<v Speaker 1>with all the splendor of heaven, and he gives it

92
00:05:08.439 --> 00:05:11.160
<v Speaker 1>all up, and he comes to earth at Christmas time

93
00:05:11.319 --> 00:05:15.639
<v Speaker 1>to be born in a barn that's about as low

94
00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:18.879
<v Speaker 1>as you can go. And why did he do it? Well,

95
00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:22.800
<v Speaker 1>he certainly didn't do it for himself. He did it

96
00:05:22.839 --> 00:05:27.959
<v Speaker 1>for you. He's the ultimate act of generosity. God so

97
00:05:28.120 --> 00:05:31.800
<v Speaker 1>loved the world that he gave God. If you picked

98
00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:34.720
<v Speaker 1>up all the attributes of God, the number one attribute

99
00:05:34.759 --> 00:05:38.680
<v Speaker 1>of God is his generosity. Because everything you have is

100
00:05:38.720 --> 00:05:43.360
<v Speaker 1>a gift. Nothing, the air, the water, the brain, you have,

101
00:05:43.480 --> 00:05:46.240
<v Speaker 1>your heart beat, everything you have is a total gift

102
00:05:46.279 --> 00:05:50.720
<v Speaker 1>of God's generosity. You would have nothing without God's generosity. Now,

103
00:05:50.759 --> 00:05:53.920
<v Speaker 1>in the Bible, there are more promises related to living

104
00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:57.560
<v Speaker 1>a generous lifestyle than any other thing. Did you know

105
00:05:57.600 --> 00:06:00.519
<v Speaker 1>that God? Over and over again in scripture, God says,

106
00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:04.199
<v Speaker 1>if you will be generous with your time, with your money,

107
00:06:04.240 --> 00:06:07.279
<v Speaker 1>with your life, with your influence, with your love, with

108
00:06:07.319 --> 00:06:10.199
<v Speaker 1>your forgeinness if you'll be generous with your life, he said,

109
00:06:10.279 --> 00:06:12.160
<v Speaker 1>I will bless you in this way. In fact, I

110
00:06:12.160 --> 00:06:15.199
<v Speaker 1>could make you a long list of the promises of generosity.

111
00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:18.680
<v Speaker 1>Why why does God want us to be generous more

112
00:06:18.720 --> 00:06:23.319
<v Speaker 1>than anything else? Because it's most like God, like father,

113
00:06:23.519 --> 00:06:27.680
<v Speaker 1>like son, like father, like daughter. God wants his children

114
00:06:27.920 --> 00:06:30.839
<v Speaker 1>to be like him. And the number one characteristic of

115
00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:37.600
<v Speaker 1>God is he is outrageously, lavishly, radically generous. And God says,

116
00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:40.360
<v Speaker 1>I didn't put you on earth to live for yourself.

117
00:06:40.759 --> 00:06:44.000
<v Speaker 1>I put you on earth to learn to be other

118
00:06:44.160 --> 00:06:50.079
<v Speaker 1>persons centered, to be generous, to be unselfish. I didn't

119
00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:52.480
<v Speaker 1>put you on earth just to live for you. I

120
00:06:52.600 --> 00:06:56.240
<v Speaker 1>made you to become like me and to learn generosity.

121
00:06:56.439 --> 00:06:58.920
<v Speaker 1>So it increases my love for Jesus. It makes me

122
00:06:58.959 --> 00:07:02.279
<v Speaker 1>more like Jesus. Number one three, it deepens my faith.

123
00:07:03.800 --> 00:07:07.959
<v Speaker 1>Did you know that every time you're generous, your faith grows.

124
00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:11.639
<v Speaker 1>It not just it doesn't just demonstrate your faith. It

125
00:07:11.720 --> 00:07:16.040
<v Speaker 1>grows your faith. Why Because you're saying, God, this is

126
00:07:16.279 --> 00:07:18.480
<v Speaker 1>money or time or energy or whatever that I don't

127
00:07:18.519 --> 00:07:20.759
<v Speaker 1>have to give away, but I'm going to give it

128
00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:22.600
<v Speaker 1>to you, or I'm going to give it to somebody else,

129
00:07:22.920 --> 00:07:26.720
<v Speaker 1>and I'm going to be generous, trusting that you will

130
00:07:26.720 --> 00:07:29.839
<v Speaker 1>provide for me. It is an evidence, a statement of faith.

131
00:07:29.879 --> 00:07:32.040
<v Speaker 1>Every time you give, you're making a statement of faith. God.

132
00:07:32.079 --> 00:07:34.040
<v Speaker 1>This is something I could use for myself, but I'm

133
00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:36.680
<v Speaker 1>giving it away because I know you'll take care of

134
00:07:36.680 --> 00:07:38.800
<v Speaker 1>my needs. I know you'll replace it. I know you'll

135
00:07:38.839 --> 00:07:41.360
<v Speaker 1>supply for what I need, and I am trusting you.

136
00:07:41.519 --> 00:07:45.040
<v Speaker 1>It demonstrates and it develops your faith. Look at this verse.

137
00:07:45.519 --> 00:07:50.800
<v Speaker 1>Remember this, whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and

138
00:07:50.839 --> 00:07:55.360
<v Speaker 1>whoever sows generously will reap generously. He's talking about sowing seed,

139
00:07:55.759 --> 00:07:59.120
<v Speaker 1>for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able

140
00:07:59.160 --> 00:08:01.040
<v Speaker 1>to make all grace a bound to you, so that

141
00:08:01.160 --> 00:08:04.240
<v Speaker 1>in all things, at all times, having all that you need,

142
00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:08.160
<v Speaker 1>you will abound in every good work. Now here's what

143
00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:09.800
<v Speaker 1>he's saying, he said, you know, if a farmer goes

144
00:08:09.800 --> 00:08:12.000
<v Speaker 1>out and he's gonna spread some seed around, gonna sow

145
00:08:12.079 --> 00:08:14.040
<v Speaker 1>some seed, he say, he starts throwing the seed and

146
00:08:14.279 --> 00:08:16.399
<v Speaker 1>sows a little bit of seed, he gets a little crop.

147
00:08:17.399 --> 00:08:19.079
<v Speaker 1>If he sows a lot of seed, he gets a

148
00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:22.079
<v Speaker 1>lot of crop. If he sows an enormous amount of seed,

149
00:08:22.279 --> 00:08:25.000
<v Speaker 1>acres and acres of seed, he gets enormous acres and

150
00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:27.240
<v Speaker 1>acres of crop. Now, when you sow a seed, you

151
00:08:27.279 --> 00:08:29.800
<v Speaker 1>don't just get one back. If you plant a cord seed,

152
00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:32.559
<v Speaker 1>you get one seed of cornback. Now you get a

153
00:08:32.559 --> 00:08:35.399
<v Speaker 1>whole kernel you get I mean, you get a whole

154
00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:38.600
<v Speaker 1>stock of corn on the cop that has lots of kernels.

155
00:08:39.080 --> 00:08:42.039
<v Speaker 1>God always multiplies what you give him. You put in

156
00:08:42.080 --> 00:08:44.399
<v Speaker 1>a seed, you get back a plant full of tomatoes.

157
00:08:44.600 --> 00:08:46.879
<v Speaker 1>Out of one tomato seed. You put in an apple seed,

158
00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:49.320
<v Speaker 1>you get a tree full of apples. God says, I

159
00:08:49.480 --> 00:08:52.879
<v Speaker 1>multiply it. And he says, he who sows generously will

160
00:08:52.879 --> 00:08:55.200
<v Speaker 1>reap generously. God says, you get to choose how much

161
00:08:55.240 --> 00:08:58.639
<v Speaker 1>I bless your life. It's all dependent upon your generosity.

162
00:08:59.159 --> 00:09:01.519
<v Speaker 1>You sew a little bit, you get a little sow more,

163
00:09:01.559 --> 00:09:03.200
<v Speaker 1>you get more you so a lot, you get a lot.

164
00:09:03.279 --> 00:09:05.799
<v Speaker 1>It's all up to you. The more you give away

165
00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:08.000
<v Speaker 1>your life, the God says, the more I will bless

166
00:09:08.279 --> 00:09:10.960
<v Speaker 1>your life and I will deepen your faith. Now he

167
00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:13.080
<v Speaker 1>wants you to get this so badly. He repeats it

168
00:09:13.159 --> 00:09:15.720
<v Speaker 1>like five times. Look at that verse on your outline.

169
00:09:15.840 --> 00:09:17.879
<v Speaker 1>I want you to take a pen, and I want

170
00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:19.679
<v Speaker 1>you to circle the alls. In the second half of

171
00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:23.159
<v Speaker 1>the verse, it says God is able to make all grace.

172
00:09:23.240 --> 00:09:27.759
<v Speaker 1>Circle that all grace, okay, And then it says so

173
00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:31.799
<v Speaker 1>that in all things circle that all things at all

174
00:09:31.919 --> 00:09:35.759
<v Speaker 1>times circle that having all that you need, circle that

175
00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:40.200
<v Speaker 1>you will abound in every circle that good work. He's saying,

176
00:09:40.279 --> 00:09:44.919
<v Speaker 1>get the message. If you will learn to be generous.

177
00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:47.600
<v Speaker 1>He said, I will take care of your needs all

178
00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:50.240
<v Speaker 1>the time, all the way, every place, all a while,

179
00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:53.720
<v Speaker 1>everywhere you could possibly think of all, all, all all.

180
00:09:53.840 --> 00:09:56.440
<v Speaker 1>It's like I want you to understand it. I mean all,

181
00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:00.200
<v Speaker 1>he says, I'll take care of all things at all times,

182
00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:02.840
<v Speaker 1>all you need, and abound in every good work. Look

183
00:10:02.840 --> 00:10:05.399
<v Speaker 1>at the next verse, verse ten and eleven. God supplies

184
00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:08.440
<v Speaker 1>seed to the farmer than bread to eat in the

185
00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:11.519
<v Speaker 1>same way, and God will give you seed. Of course,

186
00:10:11.960 --> 00:10:14.159
<v Speaker 1>the money you give came from Him in the first place,

187
00:10:14.799 --> 00:10:17.440
<v Speaker 1>and multiply it. And then I want you to underline this.

188
00:10:17.960 --> 00:10:21.440
<v Speaker 1>In your lives, he will increase the things you do

189
00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:26.000
<v Speaker 1>that have His approval. Underline that in your lives he

190
00:10:26.279 --> 00:10:30.519
<v Speaker 1>God will increase. He'll multiply the things you do that

191
00:10:30.600 --> 00:10:34.200
<v Speaker 1>have his approval, and you will be enriched so that

192
00:10:34.279 --> 00:10:37.879
<v Speaker 1>you can be even more generous. That's amazing. God says,

193
00:10:38.279 --> 00:10:40.159
<v Speaker 1>you give to me, I give to you. Then you

194
00:10:40.200 --> 00:10:42.000
<v Speaker 1>have more to give, and then you give away more,

195
00:10:42.039 --> 00:10:43.639
<v Speaker 1>and then I give you more. And the more you

196
00:10:43.720 --> 00:10:45.559
<v Speaker 1>give away to help other people, the more I give

197
00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:49.720
<v Speaker 1>to you and honor. It's like a cycle. Creases my

198
00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:52.399
<v Speaker 1>love for Jesus, makes me more like Jesus, deepens my love.

199
00:10:52.480 --> 00:10:57.039
<v Speaker 1>Number four, it causes others to thank God when you

200
00:10:57.120 --> 00:11:00.600
<v Speaker 1>are generous with other people. It causes as people to

201
00:11:00.720 --> 00:11:04.759
<v Speaker 1>thank God. If you're radically generous and notice the next

202
00:11:04.840 --> 00:11:08.039
<v Speaker 1>verses Verses eleven and twelve Tewod Corinthians nine. It says

203
00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:12.480
<v Speaker 1>this your generosity will result here's one of the results

204
00:11:12.919 --> 00:11:17.080
<v Speaker 1>in thanksgiving to God for this service you perform. Not

205
00:11:17.120 --> 00:11:20.639
<v Speaker 1>only meets the needs of God's people, but it also

206
00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:25.080
<v Speaker 1>provides an outpouring of gratitude to God. Now this is

207
00:11:25.159 --> 00:11:30.159
<v Speaker 1>very important. Get the difference here. In normal generosity, which

208
00:11:30.200 --> 00:11:33.120
<v Speaker 1>is not spiritually led, it's not out of your commitment

209
00:11:33.159 --> 00:11:36.639
<v Speaker 1>to Christ. It's just being generous, you know whatever. It's

210
00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:39.720
<v Speaker 1>not out of your commitment to the Lord. In normal generosity,

211
00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:45.559
<v Speaker 1>only the donor gets thanked. In radical generosity, the donor

212
00:11:45.639 --> 00:11:49.679
<v Speaker 1>gets thanked and God gets thanked because of the donor. Lord,

213
00:11:49.720 --> 00:11:52.399
<v Speaker 1>I thank you for that person who helped meet my need.

214
00:11:54.440 --> 00:12:00.240
<v Speaker 1>That's radical generosity. Now, friends, because of your generosity of

215
00:12:00.279 --> 00:12:05.120
<v Speaker 1>people are being helped. Marriages are being saved and put

216
00:12:05.200 --> 00:12:10.600
<v Speaker 1>back together, Kids are being brought off drugs and adults too.

217
00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:14.759
<v Speaker 1>People who are in the pits financially are learning financial

218
00:12:14.799 --> 00:12:19.240
<v Speaker 1>counseling and coming out of that pit. And when you give,

219
00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:21.559
<v Speaker 1>you're not just giving to some pie in the sky thing.

220
00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:25.919
<v Speaker 1>You're helping people all over southern California and even around

221
00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:28.840
<v Speaker 1>the world because we've sent teams to nearly a one

222
00:12:28.919 --> 00:12:33.759
<v Speaker 1>hundred and sixty countries. As I said, the miracle of

223
00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:36.639
<v Speaker 1>this offering is not the amount. The miracle is what

224
00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:38.919
<v Speaker 1>God does in your heart, and the miracle is the

225
00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:41.720
<v Speaker 1>testimony that it is to the world, and that leads

226
00:12:41.799 --> 00:12:44.919
<v Speaker 1>us to the fifth thing is the fifth result is

227
00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:49.279
<v Speaker 1>it honors God as a witness to the world. Every

228
00:12:49.320 --> 00:12:52.679
<v Speaker 1>time you're generous with your time, with your energy, with

229
00:12:52.759 --> 00:12:56.919
<v Speaker 1>your life, with your words, with your support, with your money,

230
00:12:58.679 --> 00:13:02.279
<v Speaker 1>with your listening, it honors God as a witness to

231
00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:06.360
<v Speaker 1>the world. It is an evidence of love. Paul says

232
00:13:06.360 --> 00:13:11.600
<v Speaker 1>this in verses eleven to thirteen. You will glorify God.

233
00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:16.639
<v Speaker 1>Glory to God. You will glorify God through this genuine

234
00:13:16.679 --> 00:13:21.440
<v Speaker 1>act of service because of your commitment to spread the

235
00:13:21.480 --> 00:13:24.960
<v Speaker 1>good news of Jesus Christ, and because of your generosity.

236
00:13:25.320 --> 00:13:27.879
<v Speaker 1>He said, when you are committed to spreading the good

237
00:13:27.919 --> 00:13:31.360
<v Speaker 1>news and helping fund it, you know because of your

238
00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:37.039
<v Speaker 1>generosity that glorifies God. It is a witness to the world. Now, friends,

239
00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:43.440
<v Speaker 1>Saddleback Church is serious about the great commission. We are

240
00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:47.120
<v Speaker 1>committed to taking the good news to the whole world.

241
00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:49.799
<v Speaker 1>That's why we're doing the Peace Plan. We take this

242
00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:53.240
<v Speaker 1>seriously to spread the good news of Christ. And as

243
00:13:53.279 --> 00:13:56.399
<v Speaker 1>I said, once again, you voted with your wallet. Your

244
00:13:56.480 --> 00:13:59.919
<v Speaker 1>confidence in the direction of this church might challenge you

245
00:14:00.120 --> 00:14:02.279
<v Speaker 1>is twofold. It's the same challenge agains last week one

246
00:14:02.279 --> 00:14:05.159
<v Speaker 1>that you'll say, Lord, I'm going deeper. I'm not gonna

247
00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:07.840
<v Speaker 1>be a shallow believer. I'm not gonna be a casual believer.

248
00:14:08.039 --> 00:14:10.399
<v Speaker 1>I'm not gonna be a wimpy believer. I'm gonna be

249
00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:15.399
<v Speaker 1>a spiritually mature man of God or a spiritually mature

250
00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:18.559
<v Speaker 1>woman of God. I'm not gonna whimp out anymore. I'm

251
00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:21.240
<v Speaker 1>gonna be there. I'm gonna grow, I'm gonna sink down

252
00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:24.639
<v Speaker 1>deep spiritual roots and be what God wants me to be.

253
00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:28.200
<v Speaker 1>That's my first challenge you. My second challenge to you

254
00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:31.200
<v Speaker 1>is that this year you start praying God, help me

255
00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:35.039
<v Speaker 1>to reach one more for Jesus, not twenty, just one.

256
00:14:36.080 --> 00:14:39.000
<v Speaker 1>I want somebody to be in heaven because of you.

257
00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:41.759
<v Speaker 1>I want when you get to heaven, somebody comes up

258
00:14:41.799 --> 00:14:44.639
<v Speaker 1>and says, thank you so much. I'm eternally grateful. I'm

259
00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:47.960
<v Speaker 1>in heaven because of you. Is anybody gonna be in

260
00:14:47.960 --> 00:14:50.080
<v Speaker 1>heaven because of you? You're gonna be in heaven because

261
00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:54.200
<v Speaker 1>of somebody else who told you. I want to tell

262
00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:56.039
<v Speaker 1>you that if you will pray this, help me reach

263
00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:58.240
<v Speaker 1>one more for Jesus, God will answer that prayer. He'll

264
00:14:58.240 --> 00:15:01.360
<v Speaker 1>make it so easy, so simple. Naturally, it won't be scary.

265
00:15:01.639 --> 00:15:03.440
<v Speaker 1>It'll be easy for you to bring somebody to church.

266
00:15:03.639 --> 00:15:05.240
<v Speaker 1>And at the end of this year, God will have

267
00:15:05.279 --> 00:15:07.080
<v Speaker 1>answered that prayer and you will have brought somebody to

268
00:15:07.159 --> 00:15:11.960
<v Speaker 1>Christ and they'll be in heaven. Because of you, we

269
00:15:12.080 --> 00:15:14.919
<v Speaker 1>are going to shine like stars in the universe, holding

270
00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:18.720
<v Speaker 1>forth the word of God, taking it to every nation.

271
00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:22.679
<v Speaker 1>And you have proven that. As we start a new

272
00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:26.960
<v Speaker 1>year in a way unlike any other church, let me

273
00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:31.480
<v Speaker 1>pray for you as your pastor have any Father, I

274
00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:34.799
<v Speaker 1>want to thank you for this church. I love these people.

275
00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:38.000
<v Speaker 1>I love our church family. I thank you for the

276
00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:42.039
<v Speaker 1>privilege of being a part of this particular family of God.

277
00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:45.600
<v Speaker 1>We love you, and we look forward to the future

278
00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:49.120
<v Speaker 1>with great anticipation. And Father, I pray you will bless

279
00:15:49.519 --> 00:15:54.919
<v Speaker 1>every single man in this room, and bless every single

280
00:15:55.000 --> 00:16:01.000
<v Speaker 1>woman in this room. Bless every single adult, Bless every couple,

281
00:16:01.320 --> 00:16:05.480
<v Speaker 1>Bless every family. I ask you to bless every senior

282
00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:11.399
<v Speaker 1>adult and every young child. Lord, I ask you to

283
00:16:11.440 --> 00:16:16.440
<v Speaker 1>protect our people this next year. I ask you to

284
00:16:16.480 --> 00:16:22.240
<v Speaker 1>protect them from evil, protect them from discouragement, from depression,

285
00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:28.080
<v Speaker 1>from disappointment. But most of all, I ask that you

286
00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:32.519
<v Speaker 1>help them develop deep spiritual roots, that they'll grow closer

287
00:16:32.519 --> 00:16:36.960
<v Speaker 1>and closer to you, finding the maturity and the stability

288
00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:42.759
<v Speaker 1>so that nothing blows them away. Then no circumstance, no rogue, win,

289
00:16:42.960 --> 00:16:47.639
<v Speaker 1>no economy, nothing takes away their joy, nothing takes away

290
00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:50.919
<v Speaker 1>their faith. Then nothing can take away their love for

291
00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:56.279
<v Speaker 1>you and for others. I ask that you bless the

292
00:16:56.440 --> 00:17:01.200
<v Speaker 1>jobs and the careers of every person here. I pray

293
00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:04.799
<v Speaker 1>that they will be successful, not for their own benefit,

294
00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:08.640
<v Speaker 1>but so that they can bless the world, so that

295
00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:11.519
<v Speaker 1>you enable them to be able to help other people.

296
00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:16.920
<v Speaker 1>I ask you to protect their health. I ask you

297
00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:23.160
<v Speaker 1>to protect their minds, their emotions. Bless them spiritually with

298
00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:26.799
<v Speaker 1>new insight. Bless them emotionally with joy and peace and love.

299
00:17:29.559 --> 00:17:33.480
<v Speaker 1>Bless the relationships for those who want to get married.

300
00:17:33.880 --> 00:17:37.240
<v Speaker 1>May this be the year. For those who want to

301
00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:40.759
<v Speaker 1>have a family, May this be the year. Lord. We

302
00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:43.119
<v Speaker 1>don't know what your will is in any situation, but

303
00:17:43.200 --> 00:17:46.119
<v Speaker 1>we do know you've told us to ask. So on

304
00:17:46.119 --> 00:17:48.599
<v Speaker 1>the behalf of my people, I'm asking you to meet

305
00:17:48.839 --> 00:17:55.519
<v Speaker 1>their needs, to answer their prayers, to hear their request. Lord,

306
00:17:55.519 --> 00:17:59.160
<v Speaker 1>I'm your friend, and I ask you to do this

307
00:17:59.240 --> 00:18:03.440
<v Speaker 1>because of me, but because of Jesus, because of what

308
00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:05.240
<v Speaker 1>Jesus did on the cross. Thank you that you were

309
00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:07.640
<v Speaker 1>the model of generosity for all of us, that we

310
00:18:07.720 --> 00:18:13.799
<v Speaker 1>could never outgive you. Well, their heads still about if

311
00:18:13.839 --> 00:18:16.119
<v Speaker 1>you've never invited Christ in your life. Don't you dare

312
00:18:16.160 --> 00:18:19.079
<v Speaker 1>go one more day into this new decade without saying

313
00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:22.400
<v Speaker 1>yes to Him? Right now in your heart, say Jesus Christ,

314
00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:25.519
<v Speaker 1>I'm saying yes to you. I don't understand it all.

315
00:18:25.680 --> 00:18:28.119
<v Speaker 1>Come into my life. Just say that, come into my life.

316
00:18:28.480 --> 00:18:30.200
<v Speaker 1>I want to learn to trust you and love you.

317
00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:34.440
<v Speaker 1>I want to follow you. I want to ask you

318
00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:36.400
<v Speaker 1>to accept me into your family. Just say that in

319
00:18:36.440 --> 00:18:43.559
<v Speaker 1>your heart and he will do it. Lord, make me

320
00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:47.680
<v Speaker 1>more like you. Help me to be generous in every

321
00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:50.720
<v Speaker 1>area of my life this year. I want to be

322
00:18:50.759 --> 00:18:54.319
<v Speaker 1>a giver, not a taker, and I want you to

323
00:18:54.440 --> 00:19:05.640
<v Speaker 1>use me for your glory in Jesus's name. Amen. You know,

324
00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:08.400
<v Speaker 1>if you just prayed that prayer for the very first time,

325
00:19:09.359 --> 00:19:12.720
<v Speaker 1>or you just recommitted your life to Jesus again today,

326
00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:15.559
<v Speaker 1>would you let me know about it. There's something real

327
00:19:15.640 --> 00:19:19.519
<v Speaker 1>about sharing your commitment. So write me Rick at pastorick

328
00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:22.720
<v Speaker 1>dot com and say Rick, I prayed that prayer of commitment.

329
00:19:23.079 --> 00:19:25.440
<v Speaker 1>I gave my life to Christ, and I'll send you

330
00:19:25.480 --> 00:19:28.799
<v Speaker 1>some material that will help you on your journey with Jesus,

331
00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:31.480
<v Speaker 1>and I'll also pray for you. God bless you.

332
00:19:36.119 --> 00:19:38.960
<v Speaker 2>Thanks so much for listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope.

333
00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:42.359
<v Speaker 2>You know your prayers and financial support have a huge

334
00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:46.119
<v Speaker 2>impact on millions of people here and around the world,

335
00:19:46.279 --> 00:19:47.960
<v Speaker 2>so we really appreciate that.

336
00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:48.599
<v Speaker 1>Thank you.

337
00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:50.680
<v Speaker 2>And now Rick's going to share a letter from one

338
00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:53.599
<v Speaker 2>of our listeners who says Daily Hope is making a

339
00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:55.680
<v Speaker 2>real difference in their life.

340
00:19:55.960 --> 00:19:59.160
<v Speaker 1>Friends, here's an incredible testimony from a woman named Amy

341
00:19:59.160 --> 00:20:02.880
<v Speaker 1>in Indiana about how she used a Daily Hope devotional

342
00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:05.680
<v Speaker 1>to lead her own son to Christ. You could do

343
00:20:05.720 --> 00:20:09.000
<v Speaker 1>this too. Here's what she wrote. Dear Pastor Rick, I've

344
00:20:09.039 --> 00:20:12.119
<v Speaker 1>been carrying a burden this past month for my fifteen

345
00:20:12.200 --> 00:20:16.279
<v Speaker 1>year old son who had not accepted Christ. But last

346
00:20:16.359 --> 00:20:19.119
<v Speaker 1>night was the night I finally went into his room

347
00:20:19.160 --> 00:20:20.839
<v Speaker 1>and I asked him and he told me no, that

348
00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:23.920
<v Speaker 1>he hadn't accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. So

349
00:20:24.039 --> 00:20:26.160
<v Speaker 1>then I asked if he would like to and he

350
00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:29.519
<v Speaker 1>said yes. Well, I had him read the prayer of

351
00:20:29.559 --> 00:20:33.839
<v Speaker 1>a Salvation attached to the Daily Hope devotional, and then

352
00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:40.160
<v Speaker 1>I prayed with him and I prayed for him. Wow, Amy,

353
00:20:40.279 --> 00:20:45.440
<v Speaker 1>what an incredible, precious moment that you were able to

354
00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:48.400
<v Speaker 1>lead your son to Jesus. It's the most important thing

355
00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:51.319
<v Speaker 1>you'll ever do as a parent. And I'm so blessed

356
00:20:51.359 --> 00:20:54.160
<v Speaker 1>to hear your testimony, and I hope it encourages every

357
00:20:54.160 --> 00:20:57.759
<v Speaker 1>other parent to be faithful like that. I want to

358
00:20:57.759 --> 00:21:01.000
<v Speaker 1>just pray for you and your son right now. You're Jesus.

359
00:21:02.160 --> 00:21:04.880
<v Speaker 1>I want to thank you for caring so much that

360
00:21:04.920 --> 00:21:07.519
<v Speaker 1>you made a way for us to become a part

361
00:21:07.559 --> 00:21:10.200
<v Speaker 1>of your family so that we can join you in

362
00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:12.880
<v Speaker 1>heaven one day. And thank you for giving Amy the

363
00:21:12.920 --> 00:21:17.400
<v Speaker 1>courage to ask the question. Thank you for giving her

364
00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:20.119
<v Speaker 1>the courage to talk to her son about you. And

365
00:21:20.160 --> 00:21:24.200
<v Speaker 1>we're so grateful that he's accepted you into his heart.

366
00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:27.400
<v Speaker 1>Now we ask you to give him a receptive heart

367
00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:29.839
<v Speaker 1>and help him to get into God's word on a

368
00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:32.359
<v Speaker 1>daily basis. We know that's the way he's going to grow.

369
00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:38.319
<v Speaker 1>So thank you Lord for Amy's obedience and Jesus, right now,

370
00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:41.240
<v Speaker 1>I'm praying for more and more people to do what

371
00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:45.400
<v Speaker 1>Amy did to have the courage to step out and

372
00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:49.160
<v Speaker 1>share their faith with a friend, a neighbor, a loved

373
00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:52.920
<v Speaker 1>one who doesn't know you yet. I'm praying that you

374
00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:55.960
<v Speaker 1>will give them just the right words and just the

375
00:21:56.039 --> 00:21:59.359
<v Speaker 1>right time to share just the right message of your

376
00:21:59.400 --> 00:22:05.519
<v Speaker 1>salvation in Jesus' name. Amen. Now, my friends, there is

377
00:22:05.640 --> 00:22:08.839
<v Speaker 1>nothing more important you can do than lead somebody to

378
00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:12.039
<v Speaker 1>Jesus Christ. Your life can never be considered a failure.

379
00:22:12.359 --> 00:22:15.559
<v Speaker 1>If somebody is going to be in heaven because of you, youths,

380
00:22:15.599 --> 00:22:19.079
<v Speaker 1>help them settle their eternal destiny. Fact, that's why Daily

381
00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:23.680
<v Speaker 1>Hope exists. It's simply one more method to help you

382
00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:27.160
<v Speaker 1>tell more and more people about the forgiveness and the

383
00:22:27.240 --> 00:22:30.319
<v Speaker 1>hope and the salvation and the love and the joy

384
00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:35.039
<v Speaker 1>that's found in Jesus Christ. Through Daily Hope, we can

385
00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:39.480
<v Speaker 1>work together to help other moms and dads like Amy

386
00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:44.279
<v Speaker 1>and others reach their sons and their daughters for Jesus Christ. Now,

387
00:22:44.279 --> 00:22:47.519
<v Speaker 1>I'm always grateful for your prayers, and I'm always grateful

388
00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:50.720
<v Speaker 1>for your financial support. But you may ask how important

389
00:22:50.839 --> 00:22:54.960
<v Speaker 1>is your donation to Daily Hope Ministry. Just ask Amy,

390
00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:57.279
<v Speaker 1>she's got a son who's going to be in heaven

391
00:22:57.559 --> 00:23:00.240
<v Speaker 1>because you gave. Thank you everybody you know.

392
00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:02.960
<v Speaker 2>If you'd like to help support Pastor Rick's Daily Hope

393
00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:06.319
<v Speaker 2>and have your financial gift doubled by the one hundred

394
00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:10.240
<v Speaker 2>thousand dollars matching grant, it's easy. Just go to Pastororick

395
00:23:10.359 --> 00:23:13.559
<v Speaker 2>dot com or text the word hope to seven oh

396
00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:17.680
<v Speaker 2>three oh nine. Again, that's Pastorick dot com. Or text

397
00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:21.759
<v Speaker 2>the word hope to seven oh three oh nine and thank.

398
00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:23.359
<v Speaker 1>You so much for your support.

399
00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:26.359
<v Speaker 2>Be sure to join us next time as we look

400
00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:29.799
<v Speaker 2>into God's word for our daily hope. This program is

401
00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:33.920
<v Speaker 2>sponsored by Pastor Rick's Daily Hope and your generous financial

402
00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:34.519
<v Speaker 2>support