WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.520 --> 00:00:05.679 This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, the audio broadcast ministry 2 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:09.439 of Pastor Rick Warren. Today we continue in our series 3 00:00:09.480 --> 00:00:13.519 called fifty Days of Faith. In these lessons, Rick looks 4 00:00:13.560 --> 00:00:17.039 into God's Word to discover the true meaning of faith 5 00:00:17.239 --> 00:00:22.000 and explore ways we can strengthen it. First, today, when 6 00:00:22.039 --> 00:00:25.480 you join our partner and Hope family by signing up 7 00:00:25.480 --> 00:00:29.239 for automated monthly Giving, we'll send you a special welcome 8 00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:32.880 gift as our way of saying thanks. To find out more, 9 00:00:33.039 --> 00:00:37.079 go to Pastorick dot com while you listen to today's message, 10 00:00:37.520 --> 00:00:41.359 or simply text the word Hope to eight hundred, six 11 00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:45.000 hundred five thousand and four. That's the word Hope to 12 00:00:45.200 --> 00:00:49.719 eight hundred six hundred five thousand and four. Right now, 13 00:00:49.799 --> 00:00:52.880 here's Pastor Rick Warren with part one of a message 14 00:00:52.920 --> 00:00:55.560 called God's Way of Meeting My Needs. 15 00:00:56.600 --> 00:00:58.479 All along in this series we've been talking about the 16 00:00:58.520 --> 00:01:01.240 importance of the promises of God. God that if you're 17 00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:03.079 going to be a man of faith, if you're going 18 00:01:03.159 --> 00:01:06.000 to be a woman of faith, you have to learn 19 00:01:06.280 --> 00:01:09.519 and claim the promises of God. Now, one of the 20 00:01:09.560 --> 00:01:12.599 most famous promises in the entire Bible is the one 21 00:01:12.599 --> 00:01:15.959 at the top of your outline Philippians four nineteen, which says, 22 00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:20.280 my God will meet all your needs according to his 23 00:01:20.319 --> 00:01:25.359 glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Now that's a pretty broad statement. 24 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:29.680 God says I will meet all your needs according to 25 00:01:29.760 --> 00:01:33.400 my riches in Christ Jesus. Some of you saying, rick, 26 00:01:33.480 --> 00:01:36.159 I don't understand that verse. I have needs in my 27 00:01:36.200 --> 00:01:39.439 life that are not being met. I have physical needs, 28 00:01:40.239 --> 00:01:44.959 I have spiritual needs, I have social needs, I have 29 00:01:45.159 --> 00:01:49.439 financial needs, I have sexual needs. I have a lot 30 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:52.280 of needs in my life that are not being met. 31 00:01:53.680 --> 00:01:57.599 So why doesn't this verse work for me? Why isn't 32 00:01:57.599 --> 00:02:01.560 this promise working in my life? Well, it's not God's fault. 33 00:02:02.200 --> 00:02:06.480 You need to understand the behind every promise is a premise. 34 00:02:07.400 --> 00:02:10.360 There is a condition, and God says, if you do this, 35 00:02:10.800 --> 00:02:13.719 then I will do this. And today we're going to 36 00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:17.319 look at those conditions. And if you follow those conditions, 37 00:02:17.360 --> 00:02:20.919 the premises behind the promise, you can count on the 38 00:02:20.919 --> 00:02:24.199 fact that God says I will meet all your needs. Now, 39 00:02:24.199 --> 00:02:27.560 he doesn't say I'll meet all your greeds. He says 40 00:02:27.560 --> 00:02:31.520 I'll meet all your needs in your life. And in 41 00:02:31.560 --> 00:02:33.680 tewod Corinthians chapter nine, if you have a Bible, you 42 00:02:33.719 --> 00:02:35.039 might want to turn there. If you don't, all the 43 00:02:35.120 --> 00:02:38.039 verses are on your outline. God spells out first the 44 00:02:38.120 --> 00:02:41.560 principle how I mean, what God wants us to do. 45 00:02:41.639 --> 00:02:44.439 Then he spells out the procedure how to do it, 46 00:02:44.479 --> 00:02:48.800 and then finally he gives us the promise again, the guarantee. Now, 47 00:02:48.840 --> 00:02:51.039 if you're going to take notes on any week, this 48 00:02:51.080 --> 00:02:52.840 is a good week to take notes. Get out of pencil. 49 00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:55.840 This can save you some money, it'll increase your joy, 50 00:02:56.080 --> 00:02:58.599 it'll increase your faith, it will change your life if 51 00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:03.199 you'll understand how God meets your deepest needs. Now here's 52 00:03:03.199 --> 00:03:07.439 the principle. First, when you have a need, plant a seed. 53 00:03:08.759 --> 00:03:13.879 When you have a need, plant a seed. Second, Corinthians nine, 54 00:03:13.960 --> 00:03:17.759 verse six says this, let's read it aloud together. Whoever 55 00:03:17.960 --> 00:03:23.479 sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, And whoever sows generously 56 00:03:23.800 --> 00:03:27.039 will also reap generously. Now this is the principle of 57 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:30.560 sowing and reaping. When a farmer looks at a baron 58 00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:33.039 field and he wants to have a crop, what does 59 00:03:33.080 --> 00:03:36.080 he do to get a crop? Does he pray about it? No? 60 00:03:36.400 --> 00:03:40.120 Prayers worthless at that point does he complain about it? No, 61 00:03:40.280 --> 00:03:42.759 complaining is worthless at that point. What he needs to 62 00:03:42.800 --> 00:03:45.560 do is go out and sow some seed. Until he 63 00:03:45.639 --> 00:03:48.599 sows some seed, nothing is going to happen on that 64 00:03:48.599 --> 00:03:52.400 piece of baron property. He has to start by giving. 65 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:55.039 Here are two farmers and they're both in debt, and 66 00:03:55.039 --> 00:03:57.360 they both have a sack of seed. And one farmer says, 67 00:03:57.479 --> 00:03:59.879 this is all I got. I'm going to hold on 68 00:04:00.080 --> 00:04:01.800 to it. I'm not gonna give it away. I'm not 69 00:04:01.840 --> 00:04:04.400 gonna spread it because it's all I've gotten. Once it's gone, 70 00:04:04.520 --> 00:04:08.080 it's gone. He's never getting out of debt. The other 71 00:04:08.120 --> 00:04:11.400 farmer says, here's a sack of seed. I'm gonna go 72 00:04:11.479 --> 00:04:14.080 spread it out. I'm gonna go. The only way I'm 73 00:04:14.120 --> 00:04:18.560 gonna get out of debt is give what i've got away. 74 00:04:18.839 --> 00:04:21.279 That is the principle. What is God saying here. God 75 00:04:21.319 --> 00:04:23.600 is saying that his financial plan for your life starts 76 00:04:23.600 --> 00:04:27.959 with giving in faith. It's a test of faith. Now 77 00:04:27.959 --> 00:04:30.759 that may seem illogical. You say, Rick, I don't have enough. 78 00:04:30.800 --> 00:04:32.439 Why would I give away what I've got? I don't 79 00:04:32.439 --> 00:04:37.399 have enough? Because God's ways are not your ways. And 80 00:04:37.480 --> 00:04:40.519 God wants to teach you faith. Look at the next verse. 81 00:04:40.959 --> 00:04:44.759 God says, my ways are not your ways. What's man's 82 00:04:44.800 --> 00:04:48.360 way when you get in a financial bind, Well, typically 83 00:04:48.480 --> 00:04:50.639 number one first thing we do is go borrow something, 84 00:04:51.439 --> 00:04:54.240 charge it. If I can't afford it, put it on 85 00:04:54.279 --> 00:04:56.920 a credit card. I don't have enough, so I'll just 86 00:04:57.000 --> 00:05:00.480 put it on credit. And so man's way is to borrow. 87 00:05:01.319 --> 00:05:04.439 Man second way is work harder, take on a second job, 88 00:05:04.560 --> 00:05:07.480 work over time, get a little additional income any way 89 00:05:07.480 --> 00:05:11.199 that I can. Some people will beg they'll go bum 90 00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:14.160 off their relatives. Some people will steal, but most people 91 00:05:14.199 --> 00:05:18.240 either borrow or work harder when they're in debt. God says, 92 00:05:18.439 --> 00:05:24.240 time out. That's not my plan. God's way is g iv, 93 00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:29.040 e give, He says, when you have a need, sow 94 00:05:29.079 --> 00:05:33.199 some seed. Plant some seed. That is a statement of faith. 95 00:05:33.319 --> 00:05:36.040 And the more seed you sew, the bigger harvest. If 96 00:05:36.079 --> 00:05:37.639 I want a little crop, I sow a little bit 97 00:05:37.680 --> 00:05:39.600 of seed. If I want a medium crop, I saw 98 00:05:39.639 --> 00:05:41.600 a medium amount of seed. If I want a big crop, 99 00:05:41.639 --> 00:05:45.079 I sow a whole lot of seed. When you have 100 00:05:45.120 --> 00:05:47.759 a need, plan a seed. I've talked to a lot 101 00:05:47.800 --> 00:05:49.439 of people, say, you know, Rick when I get out 102 00:05:49.439 --> 00:05:51.879 of debt, then I'll start giving. God says, no, you 103 00:05:51.879 --> 00:05:55.199 don't understand it. Start giving, and I'll help you get 104 00:05:55.199 --> 00:05:58.360 out of debt. It's a statement a faith. 105 00:06:02.360 --> 00:06:05.519 You're listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope Rip will be 106 00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:08.399 back in just a moment with the rest of today's lesson. 107 00:06:08.800 --> 00:06:11.920 You can sign up for Pastor Rick's free email devotional 108 00:06:12.120 --> 00:06:16.439 at pastorick dot com. That's pastorick dot com. 109 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:18.920 Did you know that God has a dream for your life? 110 00:06:19.319 --> 00:06:22.639 Before you took your very first breath, he had already 111 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:26.319 placed the gift of imagination into your brain and hardwired 112 00:06:26.399 --> 00:06:30.519 creativity into every cell of your body. But discovering and 113 00:06:30.519 --> 00:06:33.959 fulfilling your God given dream will require a journey of 114 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:37.439 faith on your part. That's why Pastor Rick just released 115 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:40.560 the Created to Dream Bible study, based on the core 116 00:06:40.639 --> 00:06:43.839 teaching found in his best selling book Created to Dream. 117 00:06:44.199 --> 00:06:47.279 The six week video based study will reveal the process 118 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:50.600 God uses to fulfill the custom made dream he has 119 00:06:50.639 --> 00:06:53.639 it just for you, and the faith building phases he'll 120 00:06:53.720 --> 00:06:57.000 lead you through as he does. This video study includes 121 00:06:57.040 --> 00:07:00.639 an enhanced workbook with lesson outlines, he versus, and homework 122 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:04.040 for deeper reflection between each session. You can do the 123 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:06.480 study on your own or with friends in a small 124 00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:12.240 group setting. So whether you're feeling stock, forgotten, afraid, or uninspired, 125 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:14.879 the Created to Dream Bible Study will give you the 126 00:07:14.920 --> 00:07:17.959 tools you need to awaken and pursue the custom made 127 00:07:18.040 --> 00:07:21.399 dream God created you to fulfill. And today, when you 128 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:23.839 give a gift to help daily Hope take the word 129 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:26.480 of God to a hurting world, we'll send you the 130 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:30.079 Created to Dream Bible Study Kit to say thanks. Just 131 00:07:30.160 --> 00:07:33.120 call eight hundred at six hundred five zero zero four 132 00:07:33.439 --> 00:07:35.800 or go to Pastorick dot com to get your very 133 00:07:35.800 --> 00:07:38.959 own copy of the Created to Dream Study Kit. And 134 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:40.879 if you choose to become a partner in Hope with 135 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:44.399 automated monthly giving, we'll also send you a very special 136 00:07:44.439 --> 00:07:48.319 welcome gift to show our appreciation. That's Pastorick dot com 137 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:51.040 or you can call eight hundred at six hundred five 138 00:07:51.120 --> 00:07:54.279 zero zero four. Thank you so much for your support, 139 00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:56.879 and don't forget to let us know which radio station 140 00:07:56.959 --> 00:07:59.600 you heard us on. There's only two days left to 141 00:07:59.639 --> 00:08:01.920 get this. It's great resource, so don't wait. 142 00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:10.680 Now let's get back to today's lesson. Here on Pastor 143 00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:11.800 Rick's daily hope. 144 00:08:12.399 --> 00:08:18.839 God's way is giv e give. He says, when you 145 00:08:18.879 --> 00:08:23.000 have a need, sow some seed. Plant some seed. That 146 00:08:23.160 --> 00:08:25.839 is a statement of faith. And the more seed you sew, 147 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:28.240 the bigger harvest. If I want a little crop, I 148 00:08:28.279 --> 00:08:30.040 sow a little bit of seed. If I want a 149 00:08:30.040 --> 00:08:31.959 medium crop, I saw a medium amount of seed. If 150 00:08:31.959 --> 00:08:34.240 I want a big crop, I sow a whole lot 151 00:08:34.279 --> 00:08:37.799 of seed. When you have a need, plant a seed. 152 00:08:38.440 --> 00:08:39.879 I've talked to a lot of people. Say, you know, Rick, 153 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:42.360 when I get out of debt, then I'll start giving. 154 00:08:42.440 --> 00:08:45.639 God says, no, you don't understand it. Start giving, and 155 00:08:45.720 --> 00:08:48.919 I'll help you get out of debt. It's a statement 156 00:08:49.039 --> 00:08:52.960 a faith. Now, you don't have to have God's help 157 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:54.240 in your life. If you want to just go through 158 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:56.559 life on your own, He'll let you do that. But 159 00:08:56.679 --> 00:08:59.440 the best time to plant seeds is when you have 160 00:08:59.480 --> 00:09:03.519 a need. Now, this principle of sowing and reaping applies 161 00:09:03.559 --> 00:09:05.679 to every area of your life, not just finance, but 162 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:09.200 every single area. Whatever you give out in life, you're 163 00:09:09.240 --> 00:09:11.639 going to get back. If you give out criticism, what 164 00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:14.759 are you going to get back criticism? That's exactly right. 165 00:09:15.080 --> 00:09:17.159 If you give out kindness, people are going to be 166 00:09:17.240 --> 00:09:20.120 kind to you. If you give out anger, you know what, 167 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:23.840 you're going to get back anger. Whatever you give out 168 00:09:23.879 --> 00:09:25.879 you get back. You give out love, you're going to 169 00:09:25.919 --> 00:09:28.919 get back love. Now, whatever you get back, you not 170 00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:31.039 only get back, but you get more of it back. 171 00:09:31.639 --> 00:09:34.279 You get angry at somebody, you notice they get angrier 172 00:09:34.360 --> 00:09:38.519 at you. That just happens that way. You be critical 173 00:09:38.519 --> 00:09:40.679 of somebody in a little way, they'll be really critical 174 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:44.240 of you. And the truth is, whatever you give, you're 175 00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:47.360 going to get back. So whatever you need, you need 176 00:09:47.399 --> 00:09:50.440 to give away. If you need more time, give away 177 00:09:50.440 --> 00:09:52.919 your time. If you need more money, you give away 178 00:09:52.919 --> 00:09:55.600 your money. If you need more energy, you give it away. 179 00:09:55.679 --> 00:09:57.759 How do you get more energy by sitting around and 180 00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:01.799 eating potato chips? No, by going out and exercising. By 181 00:10:01.840 --> 00:10:04.759 giving away energy. When you exercise, you know what, you 182 00:10:04.919 --> 00:10:09.279 build muscle by using a muscle. Whatever you need more 183 00:10:09.320 --> 00:10:13.759 of you use it. You give it away, and God 184 00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:16.000 will bless it. Now that's the principle. When I have 185 00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:19.120 a need, whatever I need more of, I give it away. 186 00:10:19.639 --> 00:10:22.440 Now here's the procedure. It's in the next verse. The 187 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:26.639 procedure is give with the right attitude, because there's a 188 00:10:26.720 --> 00:10:29.000 right way and there's a wrong way to plant seed. 189 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:30.879 There's a right way and the wrong way to give, 190 00:10:31.799 --> 00:10:33.440 and it doesn't work unless you do it with the 191 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:38.639 right attitude. Tewod Corinthians ninety seven. You must each make 192 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:40.919 up your own mind. In other words, nobody can tell 193 00:10:40.960 --> 00:10:43.000 you what to give. You must each make up your 194 00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:46.120 own mind as to how much you should give. Don't 195 00:10:46.159 --> 00:10:50.360 give reluctantly or in response to pressure, for God loves 196 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:54.039 the person who gives cheerfully. Now let's just clarify this 197 00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:57.360 right up front. God doesn't need your money. God owns 198 00:10:57.399 --> 00:10:59.519 all the money anyway. In fact, your money in really yours. 199 00:10:59.519 --> 00:11:02.080 It's God. He just gave it to you. You get 200 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:04.679 to use it while you're alive, and then when you're dead, 201 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:07.799 he's going to give it somebody else. So you don't 202 00:11:07.799 --> 00:11:10.000 really own anything. It's just kind of on loan from 203 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:13.120 God while you're here on earth. So God doesn't need 204 00:11:13.200 --> 00:11:17.159 your money, So what does he need. He wants your heart, 205 00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:20.519 He wants what your money represents. You see, most of 206 00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:23.840 us spend all our lives thinking about money, planning about money, 207 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:28.919 saving money, spending money, worrying about money, investing money, using money, 208 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:31.200 and God says, it's such a major part of your life. 209 00:11:31.279 --> 00:11:35.720 I want to be in your life. God wants your heart, 210 00:11:36.039 --> 00:11:38.279 not your money. He doesn't need your money. He wants 211 00:11:38.360 --> 00:11:41.639 your heart. But that's what it represents. Bible says, where 212 00:11:41.639 --> 00:11:45.000 your treasure is, your heart is. Now. God is far 213 00:11:45.039 --> 00:11:48.919 more interested than in your attitude than he is in 214 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:52.240 any amount. Mount doesn't make any difference to God. What 215 00:11:52.320 --> 00:11:54.799 do you give doesn't make any difference. He's interested in 216 00:11:54.840 --> 00:11:57.559 your attitude. He's not interested in how much you give 217 00:11:57.639 --> 00:12:01.600 to him. He's interested in why you give that amount? 218 00:12:02.759 --> 00:12:06.679 Why not more? Why not less? Why do you give 219 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:09.720 what you give? He wants your heart. Now. If you 220 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:12.720 want God to meet all your needs, you need to 221 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:15.840 have five good attitudes in your life. And here they are. 222 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:21.720 We're all in this verse. First, I am to give thoughtfully, thoughtfully. 223 00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:24.879 In other words, it says, make up your own mind. 224 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:27.200 Don't let anybody tell you what to give. They can't. 225 00:12:27.320 --> 00:12:29.639 You have to make up your own mind thoughtfully. You 226 00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:32.919 don't give impulsively. You think about it, you pray about it. 227 00:12:32.960 --> 00:12:38.320 You make a deliberate decision based on prayer and conscious thought. Now, folks, 228 00:12:39.159 --> 00:12:40.879 I have to be honest with you. I didn't learn 229 00:12:40.919 --> 00:12:43.840 this truth for many, many years as a Christian. For 230 00:12:43.919 --> 00:12:46.559 many years as a Christian, I thought the most spiritual 231 00:12:46.679 --> 00:12:51.639 kind of giving was spontaneous giving. Course, I'd get moved emotionally, 232 00:12:51.639 --> 00:12:53.759 I'd get a quiver in my liver, and I'd see 233 00:12:53.759 --> 00:12:55.519 some need and I'd go, oh, I'm just going to 234 00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:57.080 give it all. And I pull out my wallet and whatever, 235 00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:59.440 I gotta give it. And I just thought, you know, 236 00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:03.759 it's kind of If it's spontaneous, then it's spiritual. God says, no, 237 00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:06.879 you're wrong, Rick, God says, I want you to plan 238 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:09.399 your giving. I want you to think it out. I 239 00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:13.120 want you to give serious consideration to it, prayerfully, consider, 240 00:13:13.240 --> 00:13:18.679 be thoughtful, not impulsive. Second, he says, be enthusiastic. I 241 00:13:18.679 --> 00:13:23.320 am to give enthusiastically. He says, not reluctantly. In other words, 242 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:26.039 not out of guilt motivation, never give out of guilt, 243 00:13:26.200 --> 00:13:30.399 never not grudgingly, not grin and bear like, Oh I 244 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:33.240 got to give something, now, you know. He says, don't 245 00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:37.559 give reluctantly. And then he says number three. Third attitude, 246 00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:42.440 I am to give voluntarily voluntarily. Notice, it says not 247 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:47.039 in response to pressure. Now, if you've been around saddle 248 00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:48.720 Back for a length of time, you know we don't 249 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:51.960 believe in pressured giving. At Saddleback Church, somebody saying, Rick, 250 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:55.279 I feel pressure just you talking about it, Well, that's 251 00:13:55.320 --> 00:13:59.200 your problem. I'm not pressuring you, okay. I mean you 252 00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:01.120 know that's an intern no problem. You maybe need to 253 00:14:01.159 --> 00:14:04.200 deal with that, and we do have counseling, but okay, 254 00:14:04.679 --> 00:14:08.080 I'm not putting any pressure on you. In fact, let 255 00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:10.679 me tell you just the opposite. If you ever feel 256 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:14.240 pressured to give, don't because you don't get any credit 257 00:14:14.240 --> 00:14:18.200 for it. God says it's your attitude that counts. So 258 00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:20.639 if you ever feel pressure to give, the Bible says, 259 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:23.879 don't do it. That means if you somebody ever comes 260 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:25.559 to your door and they give this sob story and 261 00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:27.759 they're putting you under pressure to give, you can say, now, 262 00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:31.879 Pastor Rick told me not to give, because I am 263 00:14:32.039 --> 00:14:35.720 exactly telling you to do that. Never never, never give 264 00:14:36.120 --> 00:14:40.039 under pressure. If you feel pressured, it's not gonna count 265 00:14:40.080 --> 00:14:42.200 anyway in God's book, And what he's looking for is 266 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:45.600 your heart. Now, notice the fourth thing he says, I'm 267 00:14:45.639 --> 00:14:48.759 to give not only thoughtfully enthusiastically voluntarily. I am to 268 00:14:48.759 --> 00:14:53.600 give cheerfully, cheerfully if I want God to meet my needs. 269 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:57.960 The Bible says God loves the person who gives cheerfully. 270 00:14:58.279 --> 00:15:00.519 Now you know, the New Testament of the Bible was 271 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:02.759 originally written in Greek, and the Greek word for cheerful 272 00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:06.840 there is the Greek word hilarios. I bet you can't 273 00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:08.279 guess what word we get from that. 274 00:15:08.840 --> 00:15:09.480 Hilarious. 275 00:15:09.559 --> 00:15:11.159 God says, I want you to have a good time 276 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:14.440 when you give. It should be a gut busting laughter time. 277 00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:17.879 It's not. The Bible doesn't say give till it hurts. 278 00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:20.720 The Bible says, give because it feels good, And the 279 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:23.679 truth is it does. It's always more fun to give 280 00:15:24.200 --> 00:15:26.600 because you know it's making a difference, it's lasting. If 281 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:29.120 you haven't learned that, you just haven't given enough yet. 282 00:15:29.360 --> 00:15:32.960 The Bible says, give because it feels good. Now, why 283 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:37.200 does God love a cheerful giver? Says God loves cheerful? Why, 284 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:42.200 I'll tell you why. Because he's won. God cheerfully gives 285 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:45.600 to you every single second of your life. The breath 286 00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:48.320 you just took, God cheerfully gave it to you. You 287 00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:51.639 would have nothing if it weren't for God's cheerful giving. 288 00:15:51.919 --> 00:15:54.720 And God wants you to learn to be like him. 289 00:15:56.320 --> 00:15:58.000 Now listen to this. If you don't get anything else, 290 00:15:59.039 --> 00:16:02.240 when you are giving cheerfully, you are more like Jesus 291 00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:07.720 Christ than any other time. You are more like God. 292 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:10.919 You are more Godly when you are cheerfully giving than 293 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:14.720 any other time. Because cheerful giving represents the essence of God. 294 00:16:14.919 --> 00:16:18.679 And you cannot be a Christian, a follower of Christ 295 00:16:18.919 --> 00:16:23.120 without learning to give cheerfully, because that is the nature 296 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:28.240 of God. God loves to give, and he loves to 297 00:16:28.279 --> 00:16:30.759 see you give cheerfully. And he goes, that's my boy. 298 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:33.600 He looks down and he says, that's my girl. She's 299 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:37.720 given cheerfully. She's becoming like me. He's becoming like me. 300 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:40.360 So I'm to give cheerfully. And then number five, I 301 00:16:40.399 --> 00:16:44.039 am to give weekly. Now that's w e e k 302 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:51.559 l y na, not w e A k l y weekly. 303 00:16:51.639 --> 00:16:55.320 Let's read this verse together on one Grinthean sixteen two on 304 00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:59.720 every Lord's Day. By the way, what is the Lord's day? Sundays, 305 00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:01.679 first day of week? Why do we worship on Sunday? 306 00:17:01.759 --> 00:17:05.720 Because Jesus arose was resurrected on Sunday, and so we 307 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:09.079 celebrate Jesus resurrection on every Lord's Day. Read it with me. 308 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:13.160 Put aside some from what you have earned during the week, 309 00:17:13.440 --> 00:17:16.279 and use it for the offering. Giving is an act 310 00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:18.519 of worship, and you're to give it on the day 311 00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:22.039 of worship in your place of worship. It's an act 312 00:17:22.079 --> 00:17:24.000 of worship, so you give it at the place of 313 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:26.519 worship when you worship me. Worship is not just come 314 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:28.759 singing some songs and hear a message. There are other 315 00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:32.799 parts to worship. Prayer, commitment, and giving are all acts 316 00:17:32.839 --> 00:17:34.759 of worship. And God says, I want you to give 317 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:36.480 me the first part of your money on the first 318 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:38.400 day of the week as a reminder that I'm number 319 00:17:38.400 --> 00:17:41.599 one in your life. Now, how can I learn to 320 00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:45.319 give cheerfully? Because by my nature I'm not naturally a 321 00:17:45.400 --> 00:17:47.480 cheerful giver. So how do I learn it? Well, on 322 00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:50.960 the back of your outline, there are three things you 323 00:17:51.039 --> 00:17:54.640 need to remember, and if you remember these three truths, 324 00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:59.519 you'll become a very cheerful giver. Number one, remember it 325 00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:04.519 all comes from God. It all comes from God. You'll 326 00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:07.920 never give anything away that God didn't give to you. 327 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:11.160 You would have nothing if it weren't for God. The 328 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:13.839 Bible says in the next verse Tewod Corinthians nine ten, 329 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:17.480 God gives seed to the farmer and food to those 330 00:18:17.880 --> 00:18:20.640 who eat and need eat. And God will also give 331 00:18:20.759 --> 00:18:24.720 you seed and multiply it. When a farmer goes out 332 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:26.839 to so seed, where'd he get the seed? He didn't 333 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:29.519 invent it. God even gave him the seed. He's going 334 00:18:29.599 --> 00:18:31.559 to get a crop. But even the seed came from God. 335 00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:34.599 So it's all God's in the first place. Second, I 336 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:40.759 remember God's guarantee, and God's guarantee is that whatever I 337 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:45.359 give to God, God is going to give back to me. 338 00:18:45.720 --> 00:18:47.680 I overlook the verse on the first part. Turn it 339 00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:49.880 back over for just a minute and look at Luke 340 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:52.160 six thirty eight. Now this is right from the words 341 00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:55.759 of Jesus. Give to others, and God will give to you. 342 00:18:56.519 --> 00:19:00.359 The measure you use for others is the one God 343 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:02.640 will use for you. So God says, you can choose 344 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:05.000 how much I bless your life, and you can choose 345 00:19:05.039 --> 00:19:07.279 by your giving. Whatever I give you give to me, 346 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:09.440 I'll give to you what will just measure it back 347 00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:13.240 and forth. God is a guarantee. In two Corinthians nine 348 00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:16.319 to eleven, he says you will be enriched so that 349 00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:19.079 you can give even more generously. Do you know how 350 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:21.359 God grows your heart, makes you, gives you a bigger heart. 351 00:19:22.759 --> 00:19:25.240 You give to him, he gives more back to you 352 00:19:25.400 --> 00:19:27.480 than you got. Then you give him more than he 353 00:19:27.559 --> 00:19:29.240 gives more back to you. Then you give him more, 354 00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:31.240 and it just keeps growing your heart. Instead of having 355 00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:33.680 a little, tiny, shriveled heart, he grows bigger and bigger. 356 00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:36.880 So you remember God's guarantee that he will bless you 357 00:19:37.000 --> 00:19:40.680 back in return. And number three, I remember my eternal reward. 358 00:19:42.119 --> 00:19:47.079 I remember my eternal reward God. Did you know that 359 00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:50.279 God rewards you every time you give? And you're storing 360 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:53.720 up treasure in heaven. The Bible says an eternal reward 361 00:19:53.960 --> 00:20:00.440 Luke sixteen nine. Use your worldly resources to benefit others. 362 00:20:01.480 --> 00:20:05.400 In this way, your generosity stores up a reward for 363 00:20:05.599 --> 00:20:10.039 you in heaven. Now get this, this is so phenomenal. 364 00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:14.680 Anything that I hold onto in this life I'm losing 365 00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:19.599 the moment I die. Anything I hold on too, I 366 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:22.039 refuse to let go up. I'm losing at the end 367 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:26.799 of this life. But anything that I place in God's hands, 368 00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:32.480 I will enjoy forever an eternity. He says, it's being 369 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:35.279 stored up in heaven. Anything I put in His hands, 370 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:40.559 I will be restored and rewarded in eternity. Now it's 371 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:42.880 not you die, you get to heaven and you call 372 00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:47.240 back and say, wire it all up now. No, you 373 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:49.960 gotta do your given while you're living, so you'll be 374 00:20:50.039 --> 00:20:51.119 knowing where it's going. 375 00:20:55.079 --> 00:20:58.519 This is Pastor Rick's daily Hope. We are so happy 376 00:20:58.599 --> 00:21:01.839 that you've chosen to study along with us today. Rick 377 00:21:01.880 --> 00:21:04.359 will be right back to close out our time today. 378 00:21:04.680 --> 00:21:08.079 But first, over the last couple of years, we've all 379 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:12.839 experienced worldwide changes and events that have impacted us in 380 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:18.039 profound and sometimes unimaginable ways. For many of us, those 381 00:21:18.279 --> 00:21:22.240 changes will impact our lives for years to come. Pastor 382 00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:25.799 Rick believes that now more than ever, people need God's 383 00:21:25.880 --> 00:21:28.839 word and the hope that it brings. That's why he'd 384 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:32.079 like to invite you to become a partner in hope. 385 00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:34.079 Here's Rick to tell you more. 386 00:21:34.559 --> 00:21:37.559 There are nearly eight billion people on this planet, and 387 00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:39.799 God wants us to reach every one of them with 388 00:21:39.920 --> 00:21:44.839 the gospel. Jesus said, go and make disciples of all nations, 389 00:21:45.400 --> 00:21:47.319 baptizing them in the name of the Father and the 390 00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:50.079 Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey 391 00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:53.839 everything I've commanded you, And surely I'm with you always 392 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:57.160 to the very end of the age. That's called the 393 00:21:57.279 --> 00:22:00.960 Great Commission. It often seems like mission possible. But if 394 00:22:01.000 --> 00:22:04.400 we'll work together to fulfill the Great Commission, God will 395 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:08.000 turn it into the great completion. You know, the Bible 396 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:10.519 says that in heaven, an enormous crowd of people from 397 00:22:10.640 --> 00:22:14.359 every race, every tribe, every nation, and every language will 398 00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:17.599 one day stand before Jesus Christ to worship him. That's 399 00:22:17.680 --> 00:22:21.200 in Revelation chapter seven, verse nine. And that's why I'm 400 00:22:21.240 --> 00:22:25.759 asking you, friends, to partner with Daily Hope by becoming 401 00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:29.880