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THE ACTIVE WORD

TITLE OF Message: Simple Strategic Stewardship Part 4

MESSAGE DATE: 5/29/05 TAPE NUMBER: T1324

TRANSCIBED BY: Page 1 of 38

Scripture Reference: 1 Timothy 6:6

TIMECODE:

Opening Praye

Father once again we give you thanks, it's your house, we are here. You've come to do kingdom business and we know that as family and friends gather together in your name you are here in our midst with the hope of changing our life.

So please God as we always pray once again we say change my heart, change my life for the better, forever. In Jesus name. Amen.

Have you ever bit your lip? You ever stub your toe? You ever take a hammer and hit your thumb? Now I want to ask you, was that intentional? Did you mean to do that? Was that deliberate? Was that voluntary? Pastor Bob. No one would ever take a chunk of their cheek and chump it, not intentionally. No one ever takes their feet and just crams them into the end table. No one ever takes a hammer finds their thumb and pounds it. No one actually ever does that purposely.

Your right, but it still happens doesn't it? And when it happens in your life don't you want to go back a little bit and say, can't I do this all over again? I mean could I try this time and chew a little slower? Could I walk a little more carefully, could I not pound a little more accurately?

Yeah we'd like to have a do over. And for some of you sadly when it comes to your finances you'd like to have a do over. Was intentional? Was it deliberate you found yourself in debt? Well, maybe for some it was. None the less however, right now, the pain the pressure the throbbing, the sobbing you just want it to stop. I'm glad your here. Here's where it can stop. The pain? Yeah it stops when you start some strategic spending. Strategic spending? Oh that's what this stewardship Bible study is all about? You as a Pastor are going to tell me how to spend my money?

Listen everyone's going to tell you how to spend your money. I'm not the only voice. Oh there's marketers and salesman and ad agency. I mean they're all going to tell you how to spend your money. And if not them, its you? Well you and your own.

These ads work their way into your home and next thing you know, you know what's available you know what's on sale. Why? These ads are being branded on your brain. Oh my son knows a lot of the commercials; my daughter can recite them verbatim. How did that happen? Play them enough these ads come right to you in nine year old and seven year old form. I remember just a few weeks ago I was taking some rust off of the threshold, we have a metal door. And as I'm taking it off I'm scrubbing and scrubbing my son he turns to me he says, "You know rust comes right away with rust away." It does dad, rust away gets rust right away. And right now it comes in a four ounce bottle with a twenty one ounce filler bottle if you call right now operators are standing by.

Now get out of here! What is this? I'll tell you exactly what it is; they're going to sing it to a song that you can't get out of your brain. And what happens? Well you keep on hearing these ads over and over again and pretty soon you just automatically go to the store. I am coming, I am spending, I am buying. Now in the process God stops you and says, "I have something to say about you spend my money."

Your money Lord? That was our first lesson. It's not your money in the first place. So if in fact it is his money, if in fact it's his resource, don't you think it would be wise to check with him concerning how you spend? Of course and here's why. He has a lot to say about we spend, how we save, how we share.

So much so you might not aware but when it comes to the word faith, there are over five hundred verses on that subject. When it comes to the act of prayer. There are over five hundred verses on prayer. Did you know money and possessions, over two thousand verses on that specific subject? Even more so, out of the thirty eight parables Jesus tells, sixteen of them have to do with money and possessions. In the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John one of every ten verses has to do with money and possessions. So God certainly has something to say. And I want you to know why. Why?

Here's why. Money is a matter of ministry. Money is a matter of ministry you see it's just a tool. But God can with that tool accomplish something. And the way its suppose to work, its suppose to be this evangelical echo system. What do you mean? Well you know what an echo system is like a hydro logic cycle. I'll draw your attention to that fact, you know the way that it works, its called weather.

And what happens is that the clouds of course form rain, the rain comes to the planet, while its here on the planet it makes things grow. But it doesn't stay there. No, after it makes things grow it then goes back up into a cloud. And the cloud then forms and it rains again it comes back to the earth, it does what its supposed to do on the earth and goes back into the sky. And its cycle it just keeps on doing this, it's the system, the hydro logic cycle.

Now your attention please. What I find fascinating is that according to the word of God it's the same. The same? Philippians chapter four drawing your attention to verse ten we read: But I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished. Though you surely did care but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need for I have learned that whatever state I am to be content.

Now some of you need to hear verse eleven once again. I have learned whatever state I am to be content. You see some people continue to move back and forth between here and North Carolina. Here the Apostle Paul says whatever state, no never mind. Let's move a little further, verse twelve.

I know how to be abased, I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (Now here's your verse, verse one) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. But now watch verse fourteen.

Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.

Pause right there before we move into verse fifteen the Apostle Paul quite sincerely knows God is his source. God you're my source I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Your my source but my resource comes from the church in Philippi helped me out. I know God's the one who's doing it, but he happens to be using people to do that.

Verse fifteen: Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.

Not that I seek the gift, (now watch verse seventeen) but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable fragrance, well pleasing to God. Second key verse, And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

And again I want to read verse nineteen: And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Did you see it? The echo system? The God o logic cycle? God says you have a need and I know there's some needs. And what I'd like to do as a source is meet those needs.

Now maybe it helps if I show it to you this way. Here we have before me, we've got three funnels and we have one goal representing needs, needs. Now this goal representing needs is both physical and spiritual needs. Listen to this, maybe you don't know spiritually speaking.

A majority of people today do not know the Savior that includes one billion and more Muslims, eight hundred and eleven million Hindus, three hundred and sixty million Buddhists, two hundred and twenty eight million ethno religionists. That's twenty three million seeks, fourteen million Jews, seven hundred and sixty eight million agnostics and a hundred and fifty million atheists.

Do you understand there's a spiritual need there? If you know something they don't God says, "I want to meet that need." But that's spiritual. You say in the same breath I'll say that there are also physical needs. Listen to this, needs physically? More than a billion people live in absolute poverty. That includes seven hundred million people living in slums. Five hundred million people on the verge of starvation. Ninety three million beggars and two hundred million children exploited for labor. That happens to be a great need.

Now do we have a supply? Well of course we have a supply. We have God as the perfect source and he wants to meet the need. So all he has to do is get this ability this capacity he has everything he needs to meet the need. But he has to get it to the need and he chooses to. Which so fascinates me, what fascinates you Bob? He doesn't need us.

In fact if anything we clog the conduit. He is perfectly capable and able to just simply meet the need. For instance do you remember when the children of Israel were wondering through the wilderness and they needed bread? What did God do? They cried out to Moses, "Moses we need bread." What does God do? God miraculously creates heavenly bread, angel cake if you will. And now it lands on the ground in the morning they pick it up and they go, "Bread this is an incredible thing, where did this come from?" God miraculously caused bread on the planet to thrive and to grow again miraculously.

Now the children of Israel are wondering through the wilderness they're thirsty. They cry out to Moses. "Moses we thirst." What does Moses do? Moses takes his staff, he comes a long side of a rock he slaps the rock and water flows out of the rock.

Now do you think that this same God that supplied water for the Israelites, and bread for his people couldn't just speak the word and do the same thing? I sincerely and personally have wondered why not. I thought God you know if you wanted to pull off a powerful miracle. Go to one of the more impoverished countries lands; I'd be your agent. Not to go there and go do you want to watch God work? Watch this, take a staff boom water, wow. Pray watch the bread come, the next morning the bread. And we feed all these people.

You say, "Bob I never thought of it, by why doesn't he?" Have you ever looked toward heaven, "God feed the hungry, God bring them water." Hey, hey, hey, he's heard that prayer more than once you know that. You know what he's decided to do about it? I hear they're prayer I know they're need so I put together a book, a put the book in your hand and inside the book you'll read I want you to meet the need. Well what do you mean?

I'm telling you all the supply is there in fact know this. American evangelicals we will in the year two thousand and that's since past, earn, we will earn two point six, six trillion dollars. American evangelicals. Do you know that if we tithed on the two point six, six trillion dollars there'd be sufficient supply to meet every need?

It's all there, it's really all there. All we have to do is get it to the people. The problem happen to be well right here. We have stuffed, we have steward, and we have scrooge. Three different types of people in the body of Christ. Now what happens when God says, "All right I'm ready to meet needs I'm going to pour it in scrooge, here we go let's go ahead and pour it in scrooge and see how much comes."

Nothing comes out. Do you know why nothing comes out of scrooge? I'll tell you why. He's got a cork in it, he's plugged up. No he thinks satisfaction is found in keeping his stuff so he's keeping his stuff. Nothing going, nothing's ever going to come out. The need will not be met if he gives it to scrooge. Now here's what I've told you a few weeks ago at the time forty percent of you here in this church behave like scrooge when it came to giving to the church.

Forty percent of you? The need is great, the resource is there, you've got a cork in it. Listen to this, if your not scrooge than quite possibly your stuffed. What is stuffed? Well here's what stuffed does. Stuffed on the weekend is busy there's a memorial sale where? Oh, I need that, that's what I need. Oh wait Brandsmart plasma screen, I need that. This is what I need, these things I need so bad. And what happens?

Well now you pour it inside stuffed life and what happens is, well it comes out. But not much. No it comes out, in fact its coming out a little more than I thought it would come out. Evidently you've been a part of this series haven't you? Yes you have, a little more is coming out than I thought. But none the less, it's just trickling out.

Do you know what really need? We need some stewards. Do you know what stewards do? Watch this, you pour it in, it comes right out. Ha, ha, ha, pour it in, comes out. Oh this is so cool, oh look God's able to meet all the needs. Now know this, he knows the needs exist. Keep in mind Philippians chapter four and nineteen says, he says and I shall supply, God shall supply your need. He shall supply my need. He didn't say I'm going to supply the meeting of that need. He said I'm going to supply the need. He gave me the need.

Well of course he gives you the need but he also gives you the supply to meet the need. You see here's the way that it works, stay with me please. He says, I know there's a need right now there's a need in your life. I have a need, I want a man, okay he knows there's a need.

I want a women, he knows there's a need. For instance and let's illustrate it to you this way. Remember when Adam needed a women? Do you remember how God set the whole thing up? It taught us such classic God, here's what he does. Adam come here a minute we need to talk. I got a job for you son. I want you to name the animals. You see I just created them male and female and as they march past you, you're going to name them male and female names. So here's what happens.

The animal, he's created a male and female as their marching past Adam, Adam says, well Mr. and Mrs. Giraffe, Mr. and Mrs. Rhinoceros, Mr. and Mrs. Camel, and when the precession is over suddenly Adam knows he's all by himself. I just was made aware of my need. There's, there's a need God for Adam's family, I have a, I have a need. And God says, I know there's a need for an Adam's family that's why I showed you the need. Here's why, listen carefully.

When you know there's a need, you know there's then the need to go to the need meeter. Who's the need meeter? God's the one with the source, so here's what happens. If you know there's a need in your life right now and you go God I have a need. He goes I know, and I'm hoping you'll come to me to have that need met. And here's what we do too often.

I have this need God, but you're probably not paying attention. So I'm going to use my credit card again, I hope you don't mind. I know if I prayed long enough and really sought you, you might provide but Visa's right here. Master Card's right here, Discovery's right there, and American Express just told me I am qualified. They told me I approve. Oh man do you know what's its like for someone to tell me I have money when I don't know I have. Ha, ha, ha.

Do you know there was a time they got the names in the system, and because we got of course social security cards for Christian and Kate, automatically they started getting credit card offers. They pre approved my son at two years old for a ten thousand dollar limit on a credit card. I said, "Where did you get that money?" You just came out, how did that happen?

Guys they're not paying attention gang. I don't know if you understand that. They really haven't pre approved you what they've done is pre approved you to get mail. They know you can get mail. Hey we found out you have an address, and if its not you resident will do. So to whomever is in the house right now you get ten grand if in fact you have a job and you're alive. It's the only criteria. Now listen, here's the amazing thing about it. When it comes to this thing here, what did we just read?

And God shall supply your need according to his riches in glory. Your need, that's where most of us struggle you see. What is a need? Well I would think a need is what I really need. Okay, what do you really need?

I don't know what do I really need? You probably need some clothes, probably need a house, probably need some food. That's probably what you need. That's never really a problem in the United States of America. No. In the United States of America most of us most all of us will have a shirt on our back a pair of pants on our body, most of us will have shelter and most of us will have enough food for the day.

You see it's not a matter of God meeting our need it's a matter of God meeting our wants and our desires. God you are meeting my needs but what I really want, what I really desire, please God meet these. God says, well wait a second, I'm in the business of meeting needs and hopefully you will be faithful with all that I've given you that when your needs are met you'll start to meet other needs. And then when their needs are met you will be blessed by me to enjoy wants and desires.

But if in fact you're going to just forsake the fact that I've met the need and move right onto wants and desires and put them on credit cards what happens? You're not very smart. The distribution is wrong. And you still need a little lesson on spending saving and sharing. That's three categories, jot them down.

Spending, saving, sharing exactly. On the subject of spending go with me to 1st Timothy chapter six, drawing your attention to verse three here's what we read. 1st Timothy six and three: If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness.

In other words if somebody buy in on what is being said here there's a problem. What's the problem? He says verse four he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds.

Now please pay attention to verse five. useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness, is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

Some of you need to underline that here's why. There are some channels that are offering Christian programming. This is the only rap you hear. The only rap you ever hear is the more godly you are the most stuff you should have. And the more Godly you are the more stuff you will have. Is it really a truth in the word of God? That the more close to God you are the automatic blessing will be stuff upon stuff upon stuff.

Here the apostle Paul says, someone teaches like that? Get away from them. That's heavy. But what is heavier, as you get away from that kind of doctrine you'll find yourself now closer to true doctrine, true doctrine that looks like verse six, for godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. He says in verse eight, underline it, for having food and clothing, with these we shall be content?

Your attention please what kind of food and clothing? You mean Ralph Loren right? I mean that's how I'd be content. You mean Calvin Kline right? That's how I'd be content. He says no, no, no just a shirt. Just a shirt? You mean like a cheap shirt? Like just clothes?

Christian these are your needs being met. He says if your needs are met and you have food and clothing, quite honestly you ought to be able to stop there.

Bob this study is getting heavy; I'm not sure what to do next. No, no, no it's a matter of stewardship. He says if you've got a shirt and if you've got food you are still better off than half the world around you. He said and once you realize you're better than half the world around you here's what would happen, here's what should happen. You'll realize verse nine, that your desire to become rich will fall well you'll fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

He said, But you, O man of God, flee these things (get away from it) pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

Your attention please, what did he say? He said be careful how you spend. If you're really, really greedy do you know what's going to happen? He says its going to just ship wreck your life. You'll be preoccupied with stuff and you'll enjoy what matters more because you'll be spending your time and money on that, that fades away. He said don't make the mistake.

So how do you not make that mistake? Well three quick "C" letter words. Coupons, consideration, and listen to this, and I also think it's a matter of communication. Communication, consideration and coupons, coupons? I'm going to beat this thing to death and here's why. I have here in my hand a coupon it's for a free power bar, or a free body for life bar. Where did I get this? Well I told you a week or so ago that the Sun Sentinel has averaged two hundred and fifty dollars worth of coupons every week and a paper.

And I told you it's a really cool thing because you can actually get; some coupons just say free you don't even have to spend anything. You go can I have this please? And the girl behind the counter says, "Let me see?" Oh it's a dollar thirty nine value here's your free power bar or you free body bar, you get it free. Now here's what happened, I told you that and some of you know I like protein bars. So some of you in fact a lot of you sent me your coupons. Thank you very much. Why?

Well right now I'm sitting on a five year supply of body for life bars been a wonderful thing. But here's why it's wonderful, here's why. Because I don't have to buy it. I got it I don't have to buy it. You go what's the big deal about that? Here's the big deal.

For every dollar I don't have to spend I can do something else with it. Did you get that? And here's why it needs to be reinforced. Because some of you are like me when I first got married I thought coupons were a sign of weakness. Coupons are a sign of people who can't afford and, and Diane would clip a coupon for a restaurant and go oh look I got two dollars off this meal if we go there or its half off you buy one and I get the one of lesser value. I go honey I'm not going to use the coupon. Why? Well because it looks like I'm in need and it looks like I'm, I'm weak. And I just know what's going to happen I'm going to sit down and the guys going to say, "Hey how are you doing"? I'm going to go I have a coupon and I know what's he going to think.

Ha, ha, ha it's the coupon people, the coupon people are here. And I know what's going to happen, I'm going to get one less tomato on my burger, I'll probably get half the amount of fries, you certainly don't' get all the pepperoni's on your pizza your supposed to get. These guys rip you the minute they see a coupon.

No, no, no let me tell you something. Coupons are smart. And the reason coupons are smart again is your saving his money. This is an extra dollar; it's an extra dollar that I don't have to spend. Now think about it. If it's an extra dollar that I don't have to spend and I do this many times. Then pretty soon I'll have many dollars.

Now think about it in this way, a dollar that I save is a dollar that I could share with somebody in need or a dollar I could save for a rainy day. You say that's not a big deal. No think about it here. If everybody saved a buck and decided to give it to God this weekend there'd be another eighteen thousand dollars. (My dude?)

Yeah, it's not the dollar it's the many dollars it becomes when you behave that way. What are you going to need? Well your going to need to be willing to say, "I'm smart about coupons this is not foolish." And I want to change your mental make-up when it comes to coupons. But I also want you to number two, communicate.

Jot this down its Amos three three. And the reason I like saying that is a lot of you don't even know Amos is in the Bible. Amos? He's kidding, no, Amos three three listen tot his. Can two walk together unless they are agreed?

Can two walk together unless they are agreed. Yesterday morning we went for a walk and the whole family went including the family dog and Spot at this point and eight months old and three hundred and sixty pounds and she's fat, she's still a puppy and so, waaa, it's like this right away. I'm teaching her heal, heal Spot and then she'll put her nose right next to my knee and walk with me. I like the military dog look.

But listen to this, as she takes off, why is she running ahead of me? Here's why. Because she's on an adventure, there are trees and there are bushes. There are sites to see there are animals to chase, she's on an adventure. Now, some of you married a Spot if you will. You know what I mean? Financially in your family your wife is way ahead of you. She's at the mall. She's sniffing down a sale; I found a dress half price. You know I said she's way ahead of you. You go woe, woe, woe, woe girl. Listen you go tot agree. And here's what you have to agree on. You have to agree on a spending limit.

Now in our marriage when we first got married it was twenty five bucks. You go what twenty five dollars? Well it was how much money we had. So but at twenty five dollars you'd say, you don't spend twenty five bucks and I don't spend twenty five bucks unless we talk to each other. And why are you going to talk to each other?

Now that limit can be whatever you determine in your family. And here's why. Sometimes you can get into a real fight over someone coming home and saying look what I got? I look at what you got, why did you get it? Communication is important why? There's this thing called birthdays and anniversaries and holidays. Sometimes you buying the stuff that somebody wants to give to you. And here's what happens ninety percent of the time.

You buy it and somebody thinks, I was going to get that for you. Well now you've got it. But here comes the obligation, you still have to buy him something. You just can't think well you bought that for yourself and I was going to get it for you so now that counts. You don't do that. Here's what you do. You bought that and I now I have to go find something else for you.

Now there you are standing at the wall and there's all the stuff. I've got to get him something. They already got what I was going to get him, but I got to get him something. All right I'll buy this. You don't have money. You don't money to buy the thing that they bought and now you're going to get another thing that you don't need and put it on a credit card rather than communicate and go, let's not buy that at all I don't need it right now. Why?

You serve your family far greater paying down your debt than buying obligatory gifts that you already should have purchased in the course of the year if you would of communicated. If you communicate here's what's going to happen.

Thinking about buying such and such. Oh are you really? You know I was reading in Consumer Report last week they said that actually the one you're looking for is not as good as another one that they recommend in the center section.

Now I'm not getting anything from Consumer Reports for doing this. I'm doing this for you. It's a great magazine not only do I subscribe to the magazine I'm also an online subscriber because they put it in a little different format where just before your ready to shop. You go I need a camera, camera, what's the last one digital looking for four mega picsols hoping to have something compact, they recommend.

So in the same way they did this thing on convertibles, two door I bought one. How does my Toyota Salera fair? At the top of the list, it was their recommended car. Makes you feel good after you bought something makes you feel better before you buy something. Why?

Because somebody, their company took that micro wave and they kicked it and they banged on it and they put food in and they sprayed it everywhere. And then they actually tell you how your product faired. And here's what I've come to discover. Ninety five percent of the time it's not the most expensive item that's the best. We assume that. Oh paid top dollar for it. No, lots of times their recommended whatever it is. It's far cheaper than the one that's even the best but it actually works better than the one that you thought was the best. Please employ something like this.

Now there's another fun kind of a thing they do that just kind of reminds you that people are after your money. On the back page they always kind of show you ads. And a little markeeteering schemes where you look back after the fact and go. Wow that's weird.

I'll give you a for instance. Look at this one. Five issues for the price of six. Hey, ha, ha, ha, five issues for the price of six. Do you understand that that's backwards? Does everyone get that? That was a real ad and they pulled it since then. But somebody actually put that and they started selling magazines.

Hey five for six ha that's good. No. It's not good. Look at the next one, this is great. No carb water. When did water have carbs? Their messing with your mind man. Here's, they want you to look, no carb in Ivian. Does my tap water have carbs? I need this. Again, their messing with your mind. Here's another one I like, this is, this is the epitome, this is good.

There's the little light bulbs, you know how your back tail lights. When your backing up they'll turn white? If you want to change the color you can to a different color. But there is a little notation. Look note, only use color external bulbs when parked for street legality replace the original bulbs before you get on the road.

So you see a pack of replacement bulbs you go hey I didn't know I could have red or orange. Well you can but only in your driveway. So you change your bulbs you go look I got red parking lot lights. Well, time to go on the road better take out the red parking lot light, put back in the legal one. And I'm thinking who even sells that stuff?

Somebody sells it because somebody buys it. There was another one they had these Christmas trees and I don't have the big screen copy but there were these Christmas trees. And they're selling decorative Christmas trees and they call one a king well or a rock aide. Don't they mean a rock well and a Kincade?

There's the Rockwell tree and there's the Kincade tree but they're both the same. You see sometimes they'll even steal someone's notoriety slap it on their cheap product and give you the impression that's it's the real deal.

And what I'm saying to you is you got to be smarter than that. Because there's people that are reaching in your pocket every single day and every single way saying you know you need this? And as they continue to tell you what you need, you go well I guess I do. But here's the strange thing about it.

Every culture has another style that is completely irrelevant to somebody else. Do you know that the Mercy Tribe, are you family with the Mercy Tribe? That's that tribe over in far out Africa they have those big plates they put them in their lips. Do you know what I'm talking about? The big plates, do you know that that's a sign of beauty amongst the Mercy people?

Now I can appreciate its beautiful to them but it's not beautiful to me to actually score your lip and stick a plate in there and have a big plate hanging down there. Listen the guys in the tribe though think that's hot. Couple of guys get together. Did you see her plate? Ah hoe man, she walked out of her hut and I'm looking and I'm going I've never seen a plate like that before. Dude you know she's not going to stay single very long not with a plate like that. Oh man my heart I saw her plate and I went oh, oh.

So here's what happened. We put on our outfits here and we've got our designer clothes here and we walk out and we go hey who said? Oh people in New York said. So I have to buy it because they said it's really cool. So now that I have it on I hope you think it's cool.

I don't think it's cool. Oh you should because someone told us we should all think it's cool. And while we're busy buying cool they're needs that still go unmet. And we have the audacity to lift our head heavenward and go you know I wanted that new shirt with the little style thing. And you didn't supply my desire.

And God says you know I wanted you to meet a few needs and you're still acting like scrooge rather than a steward. You're too stuffed to recognize the difference. Coupons, communication, consideration. That's spending. Saving?

Go to that subject and please quickly jot down these three words, intention, interest and investing. You say Pastor Bob I can't believe you used the investing word because there is no way right now I can invest in anything. No, no you can and here's why. Saving is a matter of just taking it slow and needing to know that what you work for today if in fact you can save a little will in fact be there tomorrow.

Let me show you this is probably smarter. Proverbs chapter six, go there quickly. Proverbs chapter six we'll start in verse six. And I apologize for the way that it begins but none the less, its just straight forward, it's just no nonsense. God says to us: Proverbs six and six: Go to the ant, you sluggard!

And again I can apologize for that. Consider her ways and be wise, Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep.

Now watch verse eleven here's what will happen. So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.

Now you can't away from the second half of verse eleven he says your need will come upon you like an armed man. What's an armed man? Armed man is a guy who's got; he's got guns on both sides. And it's your need now coming to you, stick them up.

Now how did that happen? Here's how. He said go to the ant, in a Newer translation you lazy bones. Lazy bone? He says yeah watch the ant the ant is really, really busy working in the summer so that in winter time it can relax.

He says the problem is you keep on relaxing and then winter time comes then there's a real emergency need that emergency need comes to you and says I'm sorry stick them up. And it holds you in a half nelson forcing you to spend money that you didn't have because you didn't save.

When your air conditioner breaks if you don't have savings you're at the mercy whoever shows up at your house first. You know that? Because that guys going to go well here's the compressor and its this, and well I got one in the truck right now its a six million dollars. But you put it in right now, I'm here. Now we won't be able to get back out to you for another three months unless you have me do it now. And there's your need like an armed man ready to take you out.

He says don't do that. If you save and you've got strength of cash. You're the negotiator. Same guy comes over your house well this much. Yeah but I got cash. You got cash? All right then its half price. How did that just happen? There's negotiating power in cash. But I don't have any cash. Now you do here's where you have cash.

You ever reach in your pocket at the end of the day and you've got some change? Do you know what that change amounts to? It amounts to at minimum a buck a week. Typically it's closer to, and here's what they say and you can check it out. Somewhere's between twenty and thirty dollars a week that you just reach in your pocket and there. Just, you know a couple dollars here and a couple of dollars there.

He says when you see that stuff here's what you're doing with it. Same thing I did when I was single. I would take my change and I would put in one of those borrowed five gallon water jugs, you know what I'm talking about? From the water company, you borrow one from them and then you put you change in there.

Anyway I don't know if you have a jug but as a single person I had a jug. Now can I tell you something? As the money starts mounting you're looking on going well I already go, I've just got my old money jug in the borrowed can. You know that's fine.

No, that's one of the dumbest places you could put your money. And do you understand why? Every day it's becoming less valuable when it sits. Its inflation man. What you can buy for a dollar today is not what you could of bought for a dollar yesterday and certainly not what you can buy for a dollar a year from now. So any money that's just sitting is losing value.

You got a hundred bucks in that borrowed jug? Next year it will be worth ninety, next year it will be worth eighty, next year it will be worth seventy and your sitting there thinking you have something when in reality it's becoming nothing.

Here's the worst part about it. If it's not collecting some form of interest at least beating the odds in the numbers of inflation. What happens is when you have a need, when you go to meet the need you have less value than you would have had you not invested it.

But I don't know where to invest my money. Christian this is for you an opportunity for adventure. But I don't have any money. No, no, no two bucks a week, two bucks a week right now and you know by the end of the year how much money you'll have? Ten bucks a week right now, just ten dollars, you set it aside and at the end of year. Everyone's going to need an extra hundred dollars comes Christmas. Everyone's going to need an extra hundred dollars by Christmas.

If you want to get that hundred dollars right now between now and the of Christmas its just five bucks a week. It's just set aside. And there you are Christmas time hey I got an extra hundred bucks. Now if you could put that in a bank account at least get the yield of the small percentage beat inflation. If you could put it some place else put it to work. See it work. And what ends up happening?

He says here's what will happen. You will show yourself smarter than the ant. Wow thanks for the real vote of confidence God. I as a human being is smarter than an ant? It's a little embarrassing and that's why he did it. You see the most of the time I see ants is when I'm relaxing. You know you lay out in the lounge chair take a sip of tea; you go to put it down on the ground. Oh look at the ant, there's the ant he's busy.

Hey you going to relax? I'll be busy. Convict me, oh the ants working I should be working something I should be doing around here. Absolutely here's why, because he says the ants going to work now so he can rest later.

Some of us are resting now we'll have to work later. We'll be seventy years old serving burgers at McDonald's we will have to work later because we rested now instead of the other way around. Right now you've got your strength work now, rest later. But I don't know if I can ever get ahead. Your money will always be worth more tomorrow than it is today if it's placed properly somewhere where there's a return. But sitting on it or not saving at all.

He says don't be less foolish than the ant. So we got saving, we got spending and now we've got sharing. Sharing? Three quick categories when it comes to giving this is what you all wanted to know. There is alms there is offerings and there's the tithe. Now let me go quickly.

Alms its Matthew chapter six as you make you way there quickly you'll see in the first verse, when it comes to sharing or giving that it is a type of giving, this is a type of giving, alms. And alms typically of course implies that its somebody who is in great need, somebody that is extremely hungry or somebody that is totally naked and your going to clothe them and your going to feed them.

Watch this. Matthew six and one: "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds (a newer translation reads your alms giving) before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. "Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. "But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, "that you're charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

Your attention please, what is happening here? Its alms giving. Now somebody comes to us they want to put their kids in our Christian school and then they ask for financial aide. Here's the next question they're going to hear. Well do you support this ministry? Support the ministry? You mean tithe record or something? I don't let know my right hand know what my left hands doing. I through something in the bag it's always cash, I don't keep track of that stuff.

Well you should. This is alms giving; this is not tithing to your local church. And if you're going to put your kids in our Christian school that is a church supported school then I would think that in some way that you've been faithfully supporting the church. I mean it just makes sense. It has nothing to do with alms giving. No he says alms giving is the one time, you want to spend money impulsively? He said I would love when you see a need you go, a need? What have I got? I've got a ten I've got a five. Here, take this, this is from the Lord okay?

He says those are the times your right hand doesn't know what your left hand is doing. It's not a matter of calculating it, ten percent. I see a poor person now I'd like to give you ten percent not of my gross but of my net based upon pre tax, evaluation of year end giving based upon the.

And here's what they would do in that day. Pharisees would actually hire trumpeteers and applause teams. And they would say, I'm about to give a big gift please follow me. And now they go down the street. Hello poor person, trumpeters would say that. Da, da, da, he is a great guy yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. He is a great guy ready for this. And then he reaches in his pocket gives out his amount. And Jesus says you know what? I hope you appreciate the applause you paid for because that's your reward, you just got it. He says I wish you would never ever do that. And here's why, stay with me.

How do you think the poor person feels? Whenever you and your wealth extend a hand to a poor person do you already know they're stripped of dignity? Do you know how hard it is for some people to even ask for help? So now you're going to complicate the matter and bring all the poor people in front of the church.

Hey here's some poor people, we decided to help them. Tell us your story. Well I was really poor and now I'm really embarrassed. Thank you very much I want to die. No. He says here's what you do. When you find a poor person don't let your right hand know what your left hand is doing. He says if you can do it in secret it would be better. Do it in secret don't, get out of the way man.

You know a single mom she's hurting? Buy her groceries put them there and get out of the way. Why? Here's why. Because if somebody is hurting financially the last thing they want is uneasy attention drawn to them. Get out of the way. If there's a truly poor person out there, buy them something, give it away.

And here's what happens they get it and they go, "God who's this from? Its just marked Jesus loves me. I have a hard time believing Jesus loves me about anything. But he sent somebody and I don't even know who it is and." Now here's another part about anonymous giving. It's so cool. Every once in a while somebody will do something for me anonymously and it drives me crazy. Do you know why? Here's why.

Because I have to be nice to everyone now. If I know who's being nice to me I can be nice back but I don't know who it is.

So if you're the one who got me a gift certificate for food at a local restaurant four months ago. I don't know who you are still. And I've been trying to be really nice in the hallway shaking everyone's hand because I think it might be you. Please tell me so I don't have to shake that many hands.

You see what happens? If you get helped by God you go God you helped me and now I love this whole church because they are the body of Christ. But if you get helped by one person you know who that one person is. And now you can be nice to them, they can be nice to you. Oh look I'm nice to people who are nice. Oh that's great. No. Alms giving, shhhh, right away get it out, come on get it out okay here's some money. Oh I can't believe I just gave that. I guess I did, ha, ha, ha see?

There's also offerings. Offerings jot it down. Ephesians five and two: and here's what an offering looks like according to the word of God. Listen to this. It says, walk in love, as Christ also loved us and given Himself to us, an offering a sacrifice sweet-smelling aroma to God. What's that?

Well when you go to the Hebrew Scriptures your going to find that there's all kinds of offerings. There's a free will offering there's a drink offering, there is a trespass offering, there's a sin offering, there is a burnt offering. I mean it's just offering after offering after offering because in the Hebrew system of approaching God you didn't approach him empty handed.

And I want to say that again because some of you need to know that. That the system of sacrifice required you to approach God with something proving the condition of your heart. Now in the New Testament what is he saying? He says you want to prove your heart to God? Love everyone. He says when you walk in love there's not going to be an unmet need. Because anyone who loves the way Christ loved, I mean he was just busy meeting needs. That's offering.

Now when you give an offering, here's when you give an offering. At the end of the year I do the Elders get together they discuss a number and they give me a healthy check at the end of the year just to bless my life. And when I take that check I look and I go oh God. And I got to give something back; I got to give a lot back. Why?

Because I didn't plan on that, that's oh Lord I don't, I don't, you take this God. I don't know what else to do with this. Why? Because I've been so blessed already. That's an offering you see? And an offering should have an effect on your life where suddenly you go; I have something I hadn't planned on. If I have something I hadn't planned on then it's not a part of my plan.

Lord what do you want to do with this? You got, your up to something aren't you? One it's a major test because I got something I hadn't planned on but two it's an opportunity for me to bless. Who do you want me to bless God? Show me somebody, who am I supposed to bless? Come on, come on, tell me, who am I supposed to bless God? I'll do it.

And it's a wonderful thing because it's adventurous. Walking in love you do that. Now finally there's the tithe. And in the last weeks I've gotten more e mail on that one subject tithe than anything else. People go well what about ten percent and I was wondering if. And here's what happened.

You made me dig deeper. And I want to apologize for giving you the ten percent number. Because I think it's inaccurate. I got a different number for you okay? After I've been studying the word of God, here's why.

You look up the word tithe and you realize it's kind of controversial in some circles. There are some people that go tithing is legalism you don't have to give one tenth. I understand it can sound legalistic. I still think it's a good starting spot. There are other people that say tithing opens up the covenantal relationship with the mighty God and the resources begin to flow then. You see it's another circle out there.

What do I think listen to both circles and studying the word of God? Ten percent s the wrong number. If you have a pencil handy I'll give you the new number okay? I'm going to recommend that from now on your don't tithe because tithing ten percent no here's the new number, ready? One hundred percent that's what you're supposed to give to God.

Now here's what's happening. Somebody right now in their seat is having a cardiac honey. Last week he wanted ten now he wants all of it. Now, no Hebrews chapter ten speaking on the subject of ten I close this way. Watch this Hebrews ten and verse five: Therefore when he came into the word he said. Who's He? Jesus Christ when he came into the world he said what scripture declares in his word. Listen to this.

"Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure. Then I said, 'Behold, I have come--In the volume of the book it is written of Me--To do Your will, O God.' Your attention.

It's a tax collector and a Pharisee. They both come into the temple they're both in prayer and you know the story. The Pharisee looks toward heaven, God I am so glad I'm not him. That miserable tax collector no I tithe, I pray I fast. Thank you God for loving me.

The tax collector he looks heaven ward and he just beats his chest. God I'm so unworthy, I don't have anything to give you God. I just know I'm so undone. Jesus says, "Who do you think when home justified before God." The man full of himself or the man empty of himself.

Check it out its Luke twenty one verses one through three. We have all the rich people putting their money in the offering box and as they go by Jesus grabs his disciples and goes guys come here, come here you got to watch this, you got to watch this. Now all the guys all the disciples are standing there and Jesus looking and he's watching wealthy people put in the big dough. You know he watching them put in the big offering.

And then here comes this little widow women she takes two mites, she looks up she's got a smile she throws them in. Jesus said this is so cool. Do you see all the wealthy people? They gave an offering out of their abundance. But she out of her poverty gave her livelihood. Do you know the difference between livelihood and an offering? Offering has a number attached it stops.

Livelihood is unending. She put her life in the form of two coins and dropped them in the bucket and said, "I'm yours God whatever you want." And here's why. Because she knew that that's what he did. You see when you look at the cross and you see Jesus hanging there what do you think he bleeds ten percent?

I'm going to bleed ten percent, up there goes eleven time to stop. No more blood for Bob, all he needs is ten percent. No, no, no he knows I need to be completely covered. He knows I need to be completely cleansed. So he knocks on my heart and says I'm going to give you all of me. What are you going to do? Lord I mean if you're going to give me all of you I think the smartest thing for me to do is give you all of me. I mean it just makes sense.

So to actually limit God to a ten percent number all right I'm tithing now. Oh Bob last week's message heavy I wrote the check I mean everything in me. Were you still giving cheerfully or even now do you regret it? Did you write that check and go oh, ten percent, here take it its yours. Now I'm right, right. No, no, keep it, keep it, don't do that. God loves a cheerful giver and how could you possibly be a cheerful giver? Here's how.

If you believe in needs and you take joy in hungry people eating and lost people finding God then you will have great joy in giving when you know whatever ministry it is, is feeding hungry people and helping lost people get found. That's how you'll find joy. Let's pray.

Closing prayer.

Father we thank you so much for the opportunity once again to be reminded to reinforce the fact that yes. When we gave you our life, we gave you our life. If we gave you our life. So when it comes to who we are and what we have, God we know there are too many scrooges in the sanctuary. They're clogged up and nothing flows. So many and too many stuff God with all kinds of stuff that still doesn't satisfy. Please we pray in this series of studies, may we become stewards God.

Those that when it flows to us it flows through us and makes a different in someone else's life Lord. There is where we know there will be joy, inexpressible peace inexplicable, God thank you so much for your great grace. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Hey no better way to close our time together than to go to the Lord supper table and share in a moment of communion. And here's what I'm going to ask you to do. In just a minute you're going to have the bread and wine in you hand. You'll have a chance to think about God and his grace to you and how much he loves you. And as you think of those things you'll have a chance to evaluate you own heart. Now here's what I'm asking this is a little request.

Two months from now I want to come back to this topic for about fifteen minutes and I want to share your story. Some of you are going to put faith in the word of God on the subject of finances and when you begin to see God work I want your testimony. I want you to e mail it to me. I'll collect them and two months from this weekend I'll stay before you and go here's what happened to a handful of people in the body of Christ.

Now here's what I'll also challenge you concerning, if it doesn't work the way that he said it would work, tell me that. There's my little challenge, little push back, in other words, if you give to God the way your supposed to give to God and he doesn't do something for you, I need to let, you need to let me know that. Why?

Because I watch God work all the time. I would of quit long ago if when I prayed nothing happened. Do you know what I mean? Lord please change this person's life. Nobody changes. Lord heal this person. Nobody gets healed. Lord bless this person. Nobody gets blessed. I'd quit I'm not that dumb. But I'm still here. Why?

Well because when I pray people do get healed, people do have changed lives do get their life on course. Same way the financial stuff it's true. But I want you to prove that. So please find your experience in giving to God, be generous and when he answers your prayer, share it with you teacher.

The guys are going to pass o the communion elements Pastor Clay is going to lead us in a song. When you hold these in your hand, please hang on to them for just a moment we'll partake together. But as you do focus upon him and what he's done, make this a special time between the two of you. Now again don't eat and drink right away when you get it. Hold on for a minute. I'll come back for just a quick comment and then we'll close.

Pastor Clay if you'll lead us in song, men if you'll pass the elements.

(Song)

I don't know how long you've been a Christian. But I know this is not the first time I've taken communion. And you can with anything get so accustom to the routine that you miss the relationship in it.

I don't want you to do that. Here's why. Because in your heart now it becomes well God am I going to, are we going to do this all over again? I tell you how much I love you how much I want to do things right and then I blow it make some mistakes and I come back here tell you I love you tell you how much I want to do things right and then I blow it. I don't understand we go through this routine.

I know that routine, I know it well. But that's why it is you see he supplied the need. You would get tired of saying the same thing and praying the same prayer and just about the time you say I can't do this anymore. He says, I'm here to do it with you.

You see I have found that my Christian faith becomes very religious apart from a relationship with him. If he's right in the center it's never routine, it's never route.

But if in fact he's in well if I don't really do this with a heart for it what happens is that this is a cracker and this is juice and I can't wait for this to be over because I want to get out and I want to get home. And I want to take off these clothes and I want to relax. No. What do you have in your hand? Is it cracker is it juice, or is it the body of Jesus is it the blood of Jesus? You see by faith I see exactly what he wanted me to see. And that it is my chance once again to acknowledge my need and then let him meet the need.

The only way I behave that way is if in fact I've pushed him further away. But if in fact I realize I have this need now he has come to meet the need and once I let him back inside its a relationship.

Now I don't know where you're at today, but if its a little routine or you feel a bit hypocritical. Well then all the more you need him. So here's what you do because he knows everything its really cool.

You say hey God I'm a little bit of a hypocrite. Hey God I feel like this is routine and I don't want it to be that way. So please God change my heart I'm inviting you a fresh inside my life with the hope we do this together because I don't want to do this without you.

Now that's my attitude, that's my prayer today and there's not a communion service that has gone by month after month, year after year that I don't have the chance to see it as routine. I know I need relationship and this is when it becomes relationship you see.

Because now this is my communion and now you have your communion. And when I get alone with God and make it mine and his you will have the chance to get a lone and make it yours and his and he'll hear your prayer, hell forgive your sin, he'll wash it clean and he'll climb within. And that's where you want him to be right here in the center part of your heart.

Pastor Clay is going to provide a little back drop background and as he does you go to the Lord all on your own and I'll do the same thing. And after you've prayed your prayer as always after you've confessed your sin after you've given thanks for the things your thankful for well then you eat it and drink it. Why?

Because your here man it's a holiday weekend not everybody is. God divinely designed that you are here, this is not coincidence or happenstance, he knew what you needed and right now he's given you what you need.

So eat and drink. Why? Because the same thing is true with that flow system. Forgiveness is a source, forgiveness can be given. Love is a source, love can be given. Grace and mercy source given. Man let's let it come in so it can get out because that's where you'll find fulfillment and true satisfaction.

Pastor Clay.

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