For The Kingdom Part Three, The Withholding Spirit

Understanding the Withholding Spirit and God's Kingdom I want to talk about some God's really put on my heart and last week we talked about doing this this series on for the Kingdom. I love it. What's your motivator? Mine's for the Kingdom and it's because of the King of the Kingdom and man. I'm in love with Jesus. I can't believe it that he keeps on loving me, loving us, touches my heart fresh. I know my failings, I know my lacks, and I'm just forever blows me away, you know? And I love that about our God. And I don't know about you, but I'm doing everything for the Kingdom because Jesus is the King of kings. He's the king of that Kingdom, and that Kingdom of God is within you. So everything you need is within you. That alone should start to get rid of all your fears and start to cause you to trust God like you've never trusted God before. And I want to build your trust in God. I would even ask you to trust me. I am fallible. I will make mistakes. I've made mistakes. We trust God one billion percent. We trust people based on character and there's a trust we can have and the ultimate trust I have is in God's Word. It surpasses people, surpasses preachers, pastors, popes, apostles, bishops, teachers, evangelists, prophets, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. There's word is so amazing. Well, let me get into this because God really spoke to this this morning. I had, I knew where I sort of going and then God gave me this word withholding. Gee, I haven't heard that word for years and such straight away I knew what God was saying, so I was in there. You know in in Proverbs 11 Fish 24 it says this. There is one who scudders, talks about scattering, seed sowing, get increases. More so there's one who keeps giving, giving, giving, giving out, giving out and getting increases. It's a phenomenon. It's a Kingdom thing. It's a beautiful and there's one who is the big word withholds more than is right, but at least the poverty. So here's this one who goes and scatters, gives, gives, gives beyond probably what they need to. And you would think that would be the one that would lead to poverty. But the Bible says that's the one who increases, that's the one who prospers, that's the one who comes into more. It's the one who sews. And then it says there's the one who withholds us all. It's really living in fear, living in a place of really not trusting God with all their heart and all their life and all they have. And they withhold. They hold onto, they clutch onto it, they grip it like riding a motorbike. Flat out, they're holding on. But at least the poverty, you would think that would be the one that would increase. You think that would be the one that grows and prospers. But God sees something different. He sees. See His Kingdom is not of this world. His Kingdom is not run by the principles, the will, the ways, or the wisdom of this world. In fact, the wisdom of this world, there's nothing. In fact, the Bible says that his God's foolishness is greater than the wisdom of the world. Making a point, Bobby says do not walk in the council. Someone. Do not walk in the council of the ungodly, but walk in the council the ways of God. Man, I tell you this, something I would choose any day over anything or everyone. The principles, the truth, the ways, and the wisdom of God over anything or anybody. It is because I know it works and I know it works. And even if it doesn't works, I've received enough of the jaw in that blessing to still keep me happy in it. But it does. And it comes because he watches over his word to perform it. That's amazing. That word with holds here in the Hebrew means this. It means to refuse. It means the whole back. It means to hinder. Wow, isn't that interesting? We hinder God working in our lives. So we can be praying and asking and you could be fasting and you could be doing everything. But if you're allowing that withholding spirit to rule over your heart, your mind, your soul, your mind, will and emotions, you're hindering God doing something marvellous in your life or through your life or in your household. We can hold back God's blessing in our households because we ourselves are withholding. It means to keep. It means to refuse. Do you refuse God? If you're really honest before Him, do you refuse Him? Do you deny? Word means deny. Do you deny Him? Wow. It also means that the very root of this word, it means to be dark as withholding light. Do you know we allow darkness into our lives, even into our homes cause we withhold. We think that darkness only comes if we go and do something wrong. But we actually can allow darkness to come in by withholding, denying, refusing, keeping, hindering. And it stops the light. The light speaks of God's Word, God's revelation with we're praying for our children today and your family and your household today. We can hold out back God's life because we're withholding from God ourselves who are praying it and genuinely praying it and faithfully praying it. But we can be holding back and our very answer to our prayers as our own actions and our own sacrifice of our own will to the will and purpose of God. Someone give me an Amen. Listen to this. Withholding is a spirit that gets on people as it creates an attitude within us, causes a pattern, and develops a culture. So we can have a very withholding culture in our lives that will permeate our homes. And we're really lovely Christians and love God and it's really genuine real world. But there's a path there that we're withholding and we're shutting the door to God and stopping him and hindering him. That word means from doing the very thing He gave his life to be able to do. Man, I don't know about you. God help me. I want to fling open every door, every part of my life because he gave his life for that. And the least I can do in my love for him, my thankfulness, my gratitude, is to lay it all down and say, God, your will be done, not my your Kingdom come, your will be done. Ohh. Father, you know what I encourage you to learn the Lord's Prayer. How many of you can recite the Lord's Prayer? That's good. About half of us. I want to encourage you this week. Go and go and learn the Lord's Prayer. It's actually not hard to learn right on on a on a piece of cardboard and then learn the you know our Father, which art in heaven and keep just saying that which art in heaven which charted in heaven. Even if you just learn that peace one day main learn the next one. Thy Kingdom come, thy Kingdom come, our Father, which art in heaven, thy Kingdom come, thy Kingdom come, thy Kingdom come, thy Kingdom come, thy Kingdom come, thy Kingdom come, thy Kingdom come, thy Kingdom, our Father child in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come. And you, even if you just do that for the second day and you wake up the next day, our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come. What's the next one? Ohh, they said that now thy will be done. How Father would Sharon Heaven hello be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done. Let's hear you memorise Scripture. I mean that that was the way I learned on it. She told me how to do it that way. It was just the way I worked out how my brain worked to learn. And I still had a factory job. It was a bit of a number brainer job. At times. Times it was, other times it wasn't. So I wrote it down on old bits of cardboard, got the cardboard out of the bin, cut it up, and then I wrote scriptures on it, you know, crack up. But then I got good. God's Word bobs is headed in your heart that you sin, not against them. And then if you do, you know where to go real quick. On your knees to the Lord, you know anyway. Withholding spirit. Surrendering All: Gifts, Love, Time, and Effort You know what? What are some of these areas that we hold back on? We hold back our giftings and talent. Why would you hold back your gifts? And if you love Jesus, why would you hold back on your gifts and talents? Doesn't make sense to me. Why would you do that? We hold back our love and affection for him and others. Why would you do that? Why would we do that? That seems crazy to me when He gave us all that He gave us all of his talents and giftings for our benefit. He gave us and still does all his love and affection. We hold back our time and our effort. Why do we hold back our time and our effort for Christ, for the cause, for the purpose of God? Why do we hold back? Why do we give a tick in one area of our lives, but we don't tick every area? Why haven't you surrendered to Christ? Why haven't you crucified yourself? Paul said. I'm crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live yet not I, but Christ too loves me, lives in me, loves me and I love this. But my this is my Galatians 2 and it's my favourite verse. And gave himself for me. Wow, let's see that there. You would if I was struggling with my willingness. You mentioned that word to me and I'm smitten. Ohh. History on Patty on Dan on whatever God has to do. Ohh man that's really love and yet I gotta just be honest. They we, we tick boxes, we open up that but with God. But we won't that. Well, you know what that tells me? If we're really honest, you're honest with yourself. Jesus as your Saviour, He's not your Lord and the Bible talks more about him being your Lord than your save. Everyone wants to save you, but the insurance policy to get to heaven and out of how the the the certificate that God will bless you and be with you and favour you and do things for you and answer your prayers. And yet we want him to do everything and we'll only do something. It's called a withholding spirit. You withhold your heart, you withhold. Imagine being married and your your spouse withholds from you. It ain't a marriage, that's a contract, that's about, that's experience, that's, you know, based on what you feel like today or don't feel like following. Jesus is dying to yourself, crucifying your old life, willing, even if you feel stupid and embarrassed. Maybe you mocked, maybe hassled, maybe persecuted, maybe laughed at, maybe reject. Whatever, man, I love you more. None of my family or friends died for me on the cross, but you did, Lord. You loved me when I was unlovable, so here I am. I'm sorry about what you got here, Lord, but wow, you obviously see the good, so thank you, Jesus. Amen. Or are you going to say thank you Lord, I go to church on Sunday, I do this or that, but ohh, Lord, now I need you. Why aren't you doing this? And God says, well, why aren't you doing that? And we withhold. We withhold from God in so many different areas. And really we're living our lives based on what you want instead of what Christ wants. That's not Christianity, that's religion. Christianity is Christ first. That's why the the symbol of Christianity is a cross. It's a place of death. That's why Paul said I'm crucified, man. I died this. He was incredibly intelligent. He was a I high IQ man and he realised he says ohh, my knowledge, all this stuff. I know he could speak multiple languages. He could quote and recite the first five books of the Bible. The first, you know what? That's general villagers, Numbers, Genesis, etcetera. I mean, how many of us even could quote Genesis chapter 1 thought ohh, that's out the gate. It's called the printouts. They they learnt it off by heart. And he said this. He says Ohh, my knowledge is but Dang, it's all but Kaka. It's all crap. It's just nothing. It's just worth nothing. All who I am. He says when I found Christ and that Christ gave his life for me and he made it, I was off to kill all the Christians. I hated them. I thought they were idiots and I was doing it on behalf of God. I was killing them behalf of God. But then when I was on my horse province, so many Christians are still on their high horse, France and Ireland on the little stallion trying to be something in a still nothing to what they could be. Because we haven't surrendered. You haven't had your Damascus moment when the light shines on you and the scales fall from your eyes. You say ohh God it's over here I am, what do you want me to do? That's the most beautiful, powerful state in your life, but it only remains beautiful and powerful if you continue to walk in it. Cause you're everything in this world, everything from hell is gonna come against you to go against it. Everything of hell is gonna work for cause you to walk away from it and justify. You will better say this. Listen, that person and this person and that thing and and all that, you know, well doesn't you're going to say that when you go to meet him? Have you ever been close to dying? I have number of times unfortunately. Lord, please let there be no more until the appointed day you're gonna face. And what have you done with what you've got? Can only do something with what you got. It's all he's asking. If you haven't got it, you ain't got it. Don't worry about it. What have you got that you could do? What about your time? What about your effort? What about your love and affection? What about your giftings and talents? God Loves a Cheerful Giver: The Power of Tithing What about your ties and your offerings? That's that's the, that's the rubber hits the road. That's the world people get upset about. People get embarrassed about the moment I said that. People freak cringe. Ohh my goodness, it's the one that gets it that we don't get attacked for our love and affection, we get attacked over money. And yet every church in this nation does tides and offerings I even by mistake one Sunday morning had the local Anglican minister from Sandwich Rd. the little Anglican church there, and send me his notes for his sermon. Guess what was on toys? It cracks me up, man. Man, I know business people who are proud to say that they give 10% and they're not even born again, say Holy Spirit. They just know the power and the principle of it. Money is not an issue for them. And yet in the church there's this withholding spirit. And if you're really honest, if you sort of the Bible says it's good to examine yourself in the face. And if you could examine yourself today and say we're Lord, am I withholding? And I've found this to be so true. And I'm now talking out of 4 1/2 decades of experience when people don't give their ties in their offerings to the Lord and bring them to the House of God. Like because weed speaks about they're holding back in other areas too. It's just the truth. I mean, I'll just tell him, speaking as it is, and it becomes a culture because it was an attitude that created a pattern and it became a culture that gets on your children, gets on your head, and you'll find every way to explain it. And you know, but you know, that doesn't stack up. I love it in Two Corinthians 9. Verse 7 is his God loves a cheerful giver. God loves one who doesn't hold back but freely gives. I can't wait till Sunday to give my time. My tide comes out the moment my my tithe comes into my account. And my offering is actually I love it. It's a joy, something I've done for decades. 2 Corinthians 9 verse 6 This is this. He who so sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who holds back will reap sparingly, but he who shows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Aren't they beautiful verses? Who loves those verses? Ohh I do if that's freaking you out. I've hit the withholding spirit. I've hit the withholding energy and you know why? Because I love you enough. Because the thing in my heart and it's always been there. I want everyone to come into the fullness of what Christ gave himself for. I want everyone coming and flourishing in this church. I want everyone breaking through and coming into the fullness of God. I want everyone, when they go through the valleys of the shadow of death, Angie will at different times come out the other side, bigger, better, brighter, shining. Ohh. I want it to become generational blessing that gets passed down that you are become the patriarch and the matriarch and the hero of your children and grandchildren. Ohh. And your great, great, great grandchildren, the ones you will never look at their face on the South. You'll never see them. You'll never experience the warmth of the hug. But you can. And eternity you can, and eternity you will. I will experience my great, great, great great grandchildren. Ohh, it's all about a short time. But while I'm here in the short life and I know not how long my days are, neither do you. And don't ever be foolish enough to think you've got a whole big life ahead of you. I pray you do. I believe God's promises that we do with a long life. He will satisfy you and show you the salvation of God. The enemy can't take you when you're in the purpose, even when you're lacking and struggling. The enemy cannot take you out before your time. And I am a very good witness to that one, right? Beautiful right? The Parable of Withholding: Rich Man and Lazarus If you got a Bible, turn me to Luke chapter 16. If you got a Bible man, I hope you do well. Shakala Bahanda. Ohh, Shakalaka, the word of God is the best. And Luke 16. You might never have heard this story. I haven't actually preached myself for quite a number of years actually, and came to me, got put in my heart. And Luke 16. This is another Lazarus who knows these two Lazarus in the New Testament. Okay well you're learning today cause not one put the hand up or maybe 1. Okay so Luke chapter 16 verse 19 and 25. This is not Lazarus who got raised from the dead. This is another Lazarus. It says here, let me just read it to you and then I'll share out of it. There was a certain rich man who was clothed and purple. Purple was that was, you know how purple came about and why was the colour of royalty? It was because it came out of a particular shellfish and they would crush it and they would use it. Purple was like just if you had something purple, you were out the gate high up and wealth or stunts. Usually it was only emperors and rulers that had it, generally speaking, or very rich people like this fella. So this fella was real rich and they needed hundreds and hundreds of those shellfish just to make dye one robe. So that's why it was such only the very wealthy header. And so there was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and he feared sumptuously everyday, and otherwise he just lived in luxury. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus and he was full of sores who was laid at his gate designed to be feared with the crumbs and even he thought he could see the life. He just thought, man like hang out around this fella, even the crumbs from his table man would be worth hanging around for. Cause I'm up the old, you know, chicken bone and there might be the odd bit of sourdough there and you know, there might be some grapes fall off there and some olives might drop off and ohh, you know, I could do well, he says, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich men's table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sauce. Fuck, imagine the pain this fellow was in the degradation. So it was that the bigger died. Listen to something obviously was going on in his heart. Because we know that being poor or being rich can never get you to heaven. Poverty doesn't get you to heaven and riches donkey you to heaven. It's only faith in Christ that gets you to heaven from the way, the truth and the life. And no man can come to the Father except through me. Me is Jesus Christ, the one and only Son of God in the flesh. He died and rose again to give all men hope and salvation. So was that the bigger died, and he was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom, the rich man. He also died and was buried. Bible says it is appointed unto man, wants to die and then face the judgement. It's in book of Hebrews. It's appointed unto men, wants to die and then to face judgement. Who? That's a beautiful verse, right? And being in the torments of Hades, this is the rich man, ones in the arms and the bosom of Abraham, Speaking of paradise and heaven and glory, thou the man is in the torments of hell and torments of Hades. This real man, this really real. This is what freaks me out with the lady of seeing church. So the lukewarm church, the half pie church, the withholding church, the smorgasbord church, It's this house real Jesus makes us repent or perish the only way, man. And if we really love them, how can you not give your life in every way possible to reach even one more person for Christ? And then he cried, and he said, Father Abraham, this is the rich fellow. And he said, Father Abraham have mercy on me and seeing Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. Ohh hell jeepers bro flipping it that's freaks me out Ohh do you only believe for God's? So love the world the beautiful verses and God will meet all your needs according to the riches. You just want those ones. You want to be that type of person who loves Jesus conditionally. Our nation is in a mess. We're on the what's the word precipice is that? He said of hell breaking out in our nation, being taken over. So many people are so dumb. To me though, they're watches. Mainstream media doesn't tell you squat. They have no idea what's happening in the world. A lot of Christians are like that. And I go, What the Hell's going on with my brothers and sisters? Why are we so-called? Well, we just want a nice life. And I just want my owning house. You think owning a house is the barn? End all of life. It's gonna burn, man. It's gonna it's gonna rot when you're dying. I've died, nearly died on the side of the road. I've nearly died in a hospital and in Bali. And then white cat was actually one that were really nearly died in. You know, like I've said goodbye to Ellie, cheek to cheek, tears running down her cheeks. Goodbye, honey. Do this for the church. Let them know I love them. Do this for the kids. Did it go? Did it for an hour? May not have You know what I was told? No one really, or very few survive, but God, then they're exciting. I'm not saying I'm celebrating. I'll tell you, you know, and we're so caught up and have I got the latest shoes and you know, have I got a cool car? And then we go into debt for dumb stuff. We go into debt and we Chuck everything else out because we want a nice house and we want a nice car or we want cool clothes and we want branding this and branded there. I've gotta have an iPhone when iPhone went 2 1/2 thousand stupid dollars, you know, this and that. And I say no, I'm not putting condemnation on anyone. Just saying that you know, if you can do it, do it. Cool but why go into that which will shut your life down? Most of it will shut your life down for following God. I'll tell you every House of built, every House of renovated. I have never. I did all my calculations to see if I could do it cause Bible says who would build a house and not first work out if you could afford it and I all along I tell you my number one priority when I did my figures was my tithes and offerings and if I couldn't still be paying my ties and offering. Didn't care what the bank said they want my money. The duty foul demon of mammon on him. Don't give your money to the church. Who the heck are you to tell me what I can and can't do right? I'm talking. I'm talking truth. I'm talking the truth. Truth says you're free. Don't like me? You don't like Jesus? I don't care if you don't like me, to be honest, I'd like it, but I'm over it. Um, I would make sure that got the tick because it wasn't going to start withholding from God when I needed God so much. And you know what, the same today when I'm 60 as I was when I'm my 20s and I brought my own house all by myself. No one helped me. No one showed me what to do. A couple of people sort of a little bit there, but not much. I made it all happen, me and the Lord. Hard work, smart work, you know. 11/12/13 something houses later did it because you know why church could never afford me just could never clothe my kids and feed them all. Ohh yeah that pasta you get paid get out of you. You know, I hope the kids got shoes once every six months or year, bending on their needs, you know? But if I couldn't afford it, I had holes in my shoes. I preached with holes in my shoes. I preached with wet socks. You didn't know. No one knew cause I went down to you know bleed over and be self pitiful and cry baby. Now it was exciting because God was coming. Now I can afford some nice shoes and I'll tell you what, it's because I had to do this and I had sort of, and I was going back with Kate. We'll sell that house, profit from that house, paid that back, plus I had more money. Now let's go. What's the next opportunity? You know what I mean? Smarts, brains and hard workmen. Hard work. You're not a hard work, you're going nowhere. Ohh give me more give me. Why should anyone give you a pay rise, by the way? Why I deserve it? Why do you deserve it? And yet I tell you I know how to help you get pay rises so that you can. I know how to get you from being the boy to the boss. I know how to get you with money. Not hard. Actually, the hard bit is withholding. I'm breaking. I'm coming for you. Most pastors don't want to preach it cause the church shrinks. Well they happens it happens. Gotta add it up with ones who do want to follow and obey Jesus. But I want you to cause I love you and you're here for a purpose and God's plans on you. God's save you. He pulled you out of the pit of crap and lifted you up for something great. But we hold on. Why do we hold on to crap? Imagine if I got it some toilet paper with some crimes. Could you hold this order District Hold this? Yuck. You think it's and that's what we really do. I don't want to be like that. I don't want you to be like that. And so being in torment. Then he cried and said have mercy on me and seeing layers of that he might dip that ohh man, don't get caught on that joint from in tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things and likewise Lazarus received evil things and now he is comforted and you are tormented. That line there, it says son, they have. God talks to every human being. He sees them as a son and he sees them as a daughter, no matter what they believe or not. God saw me and son when I was Johnny Rotten. He saw me not just when Johnny was Johnny. Be good son. Remember that in your lifetime you received. And what did you do with your you withheld man? Couldn't you just send out a snack pack for the bro? Couldn't you just put a nice glass of water with a bit of lemon in it to make it taste a bit nicer for him? And couldn't you just maybe given him a, you know, a plate of copying your leftovers? He would have been stoked, but he withheld. And the principle of God is a What are we withholding from God? What are we holding, withholding from God that can lead us to torment? I'll tell you what, it's not works that you saved by either. Got to make that real clear. You're not saved by works. But you know, the problem with the with the Christian Church today is that we know we're not saved by works, but by faith in Jesus Christ. And then a response is meant to be to do the works out of love and gratitude and grace. But but we get so caught up in the free gift up your free gift cost God everything and we can't even go to church once a week. We can't even use our singing gift for singing. We can't even use our welcoming smile. And everyone has one of those to welcome someone to God's house and make it amazing. The day I walked into church, I was a heathen and I was blown away. I thought, this ain't like the pub. That's what I thought. Everyone smiled, everyone shook my hands. I think they just about thought, ohh was the the, the, the the greeter at the door. I got stuck at the door for 10 minutes because everyone stopped them welcomed me and shook my hand and I was, I didn't look nice. Long hair, dirty, scruffy, probably still stunk from because I've been out the night before and you know, and I probably still stunk of alcohol and other dumb stuff and I don't know, I might not have even changed my trousers that day. Mother still stunk like nothing. I don't know. I can't remember, you know, we can't do we, we, we, we can't learn how to do something just. Even if it's not my thing, I'll do it in the mean time until we find somebody who loves it. Ohh. Well, time is tough. I can't bring a tithe. OK, I was gonna chase you up about it. I hope you get convicted. That's love man. Slave bro, you want a little ohh I can't be the nice little. Hold your hand, clap your hand, but I'll tell you. Get me in your corner. Then you've got someone who will be ferocious, almost savage. So Sean Strickland's fight the other day, so pleased you won, there was light against darkness. Savage. What about come savage for Jesus? And he was savage for me, man. He was so savage. He sweated blood. The guy's crazy. The guy's out the gate. That's the God you serve. That's the love. The intensity of his love. The intensity of his hard and his purpose. The intensity that he gave everything so we could have everything. I can't withhold. Or you want me? Cool. Say the word. OK, I'll get myself if I moan and groan. And sometimes I have some little moans and groans, but then I'll pull my head in and I sort Johnny out, slap him up the side of the head. Better I do it than life. Ohh. God chastise me, you know he has issue was the withholding spirit. You see, powerful way isn't interesting. I think one person had heard that story. Maybe I should share that story more often as a reminder. But how come you haven't read it? Don't you read your Bible? Ohh, you see it as a book. I see it as the menu to life. It's beautiful, man, so beautiful. Not because I have to, no, not cause someone's dictating to me. It's just my love for my gratitude, my thankfulness. You see, in his pleasure and in his blessing, he withheld, He refused, He denied, He stayed in the dark and withheld from giving. And Proverbs 14 verse 12 says there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. That sucks about how true right? Listen to this. Malachi's Challenge: Blessings for Not Withholding Always choose to do what is right before God as that will always lead to more and Malachi chapter 3, I'm going to read it because it's such powerful words and God's word. God created this world with his words. His words are power. His words are creative. And in Malachi 3 verse 8 it says this will a man rob God? Will a man hold back from God? The one who gave his life to for you, the one who forgave you, the one who was there and wiped your tears and loves you, will never leave you, nor for sake you? Will a man rob God? When you rob God? Will I rob God? Yet it says yet you have robbed me. But you say, in what way have we robbed you God? And God makes a real clear and tithes and offerings. I mean, how beautiful is that little elder dead? Beautiful because he knows the power of what God's Word says. He knows the power of the council of God's Word. He does that. He did that from when he walked in here with his little stubbies from Hindley and his green. I can throw him. Remember him and his gum boots and his green hunting and fishing shit and he caught it. Tides and offerings since you're cursed with the curse. Man, I don't want that's like I'd rather have 90% less than 10% being nitroglycerin in my back pocket, he says. For you have robbed me this whole nation. Tell if our whole nation would turn back to God and put out their hearts and lives right with God and follow God's word. Loved him like He loves us. Gave give everything for him. It's just maybe that's heaven. But boy, it could turn a nation around in history, showing us that it can and does and has. We've enjoying the benefits of that, believe it or not. That's why the enemy is trying now to take it, he says. Bring all the ties into the storehouse, that local church, that there may be food in my house. This is Angel's food and this food if someone needs it to, but not a lazy person, not a not a, you know, scammer. The problem I find is the people who deserve it the most won't say anything. I've gotta try and fear it round. Try and find them out. If you know someone's like that, I'd hate to think any of our families struggled, but at the same time, I don't want to make it easy so they don't breakthrough and get their victory. You know what I mean? You know you better teach a person to fish than give them one I and try me now that you know this is the only thing in the place in the Bible says test me, test me, try me now and this tides and offerings only plays. This is cool man how this is fun. OK, God game on game on Father beautiful. How cool says the Lord of hosts for now open for you the windows heaven and then it goes into all these blessings and breakthroughs and he'll rebuke the enemy for you. The devour, a lot of people allowing the devour into their homes and into their back pocket, as much money they put in it. They lose it. They've earned more money, but now they've still got less because they got a hole in my bucket, dear Liza. Dear Liza got a hole in my pocket. And as much as I put the money in there, it's still never enough. Who's been there? How will I close up the holes so that God can fill your basket? And back at man pressed down, shaken together, overflowing. That's what Jesus said. I trust Jesus, I don't trust all your words and you won't, I bet, trust all my words. If you trusted all my words, you'd be I wouldn't need to preach this because you don't trust my words that I'm speaking that are his words. Because you're withholding holding your time. We're holding your teller, holding your experiences, holding back your love. Or I don't love them. They're not the right colour, they're not from the hood, they're from this or that or this or that. Get rid of that racist spirit. Get rid of that snobbery. Amen. Ohh come on, we need to give God a shout right now just to help you through. Amazing. Listen always choose to do what is right before God, as that always leads to more. Always listen to this tithe breaks the curse of the love of money. The love of money is a real spirit demon and creates cultures. You don't have to be poor. Well, that's what my Bible says. That Jesus became poor, That you become rich. Ohh. But Jesus didn't have anything. Exactly. Perfect. You just quoted the scripture so that you might become rich, and there's some big messages to those who are rich in the Bible too. Pretty full on responsibility to have wealth in God's eyes. Could you handle that? Could you have? If you had two million dropped into your pocket, what would you do? Ohh would you tie it? Would you do something great with it? Would you bless your family and get a real good house set up, Get some investments set up so it works for you and double it, triple it, quadruple it cause you could if you wanted to or just waste it. Most people that happens, they never give. Ohh you know they would say I'll give when I'm rich. No you won't. You weren't. Ohh. I've had people and I hate it when they do it. In fact, I don't want anyone to do it because you'll be so tested. Ohh, I'm gonna pay the church mortgage. Ohh I'm going to pay it off. I'll pay for this, I'll pay for that. You know what every person said that never done it and not here they were and I go ohh please no, no, no. But I'll tell you what, it's those behind the scenes, it's the widows, it's the might, it's this and it's that. And those ones that doesn't look, but they trust God, they believe God. They don't have a withholding spirit. God builds His church and advances Kingdom for those who have no withholding spiritual attitude in them. It's beautiful. I admire you, you know who you are. I admire you, but way beyond what you realise. I honour you. You're a true heroes of the faith. You're just, you're crazy. Gosh, I love you. You're an awesome and I love everyone too but I gotta give them the accolades cause they deserve it. Honour is worthy for those who deserve it, you know it says. But those who desire to be rich fallen to temptation and to sneer, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drowned men in destruction and petition. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. How many people says money is the root of all evil? It's not true. It's the love of the love of love of money. Love of money. God has no problem with you having heaps of money, it's the love of it we've money becomes 1st and God and never comes seeking and sees have strayed from the faith. Ohh Lord they're straight from the faith. They were doing great until they got a mortgage. Now they can't tie because they they booked themselves up so tight so hard and for the next 30 years they'll probably slave getting rid of it and then they'll be old. They might die in the mean time. It's I'm just telling the truth. But you are a man of God. That's not just the pastor. It's the man of God. You're a man and woman of God. Flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life, to which you were called woohoo. That's the adventure, that's the excitement. See where it says those who desire to be rich fallen foul? I don't want you drowning, I want you flourishing in life. Who wants to flourish? This is the keys. I want you to. I want you to. But guess what? All my wanting to, all my praying desiring to, all my visualising and faith to means nothing unless you want to. And then you do it. My hands are tight. God's hands are tight. Your destiny is in your own hands. Isn't it amazing? See socialism and communism, Marxism and every other religion. They wanna take your freedom of choice and control it. God's no. I want you to have all the freedom, the greatest gifters, personal sovereignty. Wow, personal sovereign. You can say what you like, you can go where you like and dress like you want. You can spend it, save it, do this, do that, whatever. That's the beauty that God gave us from the garden till today. Only man and demons trying to teach you that from us, right? It's amazing the powder chews. Right Desires, Money, and Letting Go of the Cliff Listen, don't desire to be rich, but desire to be the greatest you can be, desire to be the greatest you can be. Desire to do great things in life and in the short time we're here, desire to be the best in what you do, be the best that what you can do. And you watch promotions coming. With promotions will come money and then doors will open and people will see you're worth a wanna pay you more or other opportunities come that you could do something on your own. Desired to be the best in what you do. Listeners desire to stand out with character personality integrity. Let your character, let your personality there. Let your personality shine. I want to see who you are. Don't want to know who your idols are. Your heroes are. I want to know who you are. I want to see your personality shine. I wanna see your greatness come forth. I wanna see your sparkle, your angle, your way. Where? How beautiful. Desire to stand out with the best. If you're in a business or work for a business, stand out with the best product and the best service. If you do get those desires right, I tell you what, money will come. Money will come money ohh come Money will come. Money will come. Money will come, it will come, it will come, it will come, it will come. Money will not be an issue but it's cause we don't desire the right way. We desire more material wealth. Money more than the services we give the products, the character the and chagrin the the the the your personality. Let it out, she said. Don't hide your light under a bushel. It's his ladder there showing man, just showing. Be you. Be the amazing you. It works this way. I've proven it. I've got billion percent confidence because I've done it. It works. Isn't that awesome? Listen, get your desire, your longing, your dream, right? And money will chase you. Now here's here's, here's the power. But right now, last week I was watching F1. Anyone likes Formula One F1? I like watching it on sports channel, whatever it is, and I like watching the Netflix series or just love it. And I'm watching the race the other day in Miami just over a week ago, and who was winning and all the new systems they've changed and laws have brought in for the racing at the moment. And I was sitting there thinking, you know, Lord, why do people not toys? I can't generally I love why? I guess I don't understand it because it's never been an issue for me. Ohh, well you know, I gotcha. Well, our children too. I've got bills, I've got problems, I've got all that. Let's just trust the God, right? But why law? You know what? I didn't want my mind working out. You know, I didn't wanna scripture even sort of trying to even though that well, you know what I'm saying? I just why? I just had this why God moment and like instantly God just gave me a picture goes like a vision. It was like a word from him and it just went boom, boom, boom, and my and I saw it and this is what it was. What I saw is you know, when we give our lives to Jesus, it's really so beautiful and genuine, right? You caught it. Well, Jesus is real. God's real. This is crazy. You feel it, you know it's right. You don't understand it. You don't even have the knowledge about you know it's good. You know it's right and you do the leap because it is a leap. It's a fun leap. Who loves jumping off charges, jumping off big high rocks? Yep, whole lot of crazies, you know, do a big money. Well, it's a bit like that. It's like, yeah, woo, right, crazy. That's what it's like giving your life to Jesus. That's why it's like getting saved. And it's like you go, yeah, so I'm not going to try because I'm snapping half. And you know, we all lovely, wouldn't it? I don't want to give Ellie another phone call, do we now? And God forbid, in Jesus name anyway, you it's like the jump off the Cliff and it's like, yeah, go on, you're awesome. This is what the picture so the vision is. So. Yeah. It's so real, It's genuine. It's amazing. It's so beautiful. It's so cool. And it's like, yeah, yeah. But then something happens. My money and suddenly it goes through. Yeah. And it's real. It's genuine. It's not some fluffy fake rubbish. It's your far out here. I want it. Lord. Yeah, you're awesome. I believe in you. Ohh yeah, yeah. I don't understand. But cool cup boy. But then suddenly I saw this hand go back to the Cliff, and the Cliff was a place of security, a place as a place of knowing it was. It spoke to me of the world. And with one hand reaching forward, next manner reaching back in, you're holding on for dear life. You're gripping just by breaking your fingernails, holding onto the world system, the world's wisdom, the world's lies, the world's death, you know, control it under the sway of the wicked one, the Bible says, and holding on to that. And yet doing this, it's like you're getting torn up too. And there was this real, and I could see how real and genuine. I could, like, feel it. How awesome, how genuine, how amazing, how cool. I, you know what I mean? But then I could see this hand reaching back, and I could see the fear, and I could see the well I could trust. One moment you were abandoning everything, but then there's one thing that says money, money moolah coin. Ohh La La la. I can buy something, whatever you wanna call it. Boom and next minute it went from this beautiful and you know it's in this I still saw this continuing. It wasn't backsliding. It wasn't denying Jesus. It wasn't running away. It wasn't giving God and the church this two finger, one finger salute or voting by your feet and not coming back. It was it was still going. It was there, but guess what? It was now stuck, ohh, stuck. What had started so awesome and in the right thing. Another bit of revelation, another bit of light came and it caused the grip to go in the death grip. Hold on, no, you're not having my money. I'll give you some coin, give a few dollars, I'll give 10% of my net. Ohh never my gross. I won't do this. I'm not gonna $5 to building programme or something or I'm not gonna give whatever, whatever, whatever, no, but come and receive and all the people that do is why you got this. And while you can get free counselling and support, that second to none is because people tie. Why these heaters? Why there's nice surroundings, nice toilets that are clean. Because I hate public toilets. Putrid. You know why they cause someone chose not to withhold. Every seat in this building was purchased for households. We did a giving campaign and we said let's buy them. Let's all buy them. I did it. Everyone that was in the church. Yeah. You remember right? Yeah, people here remember we bought it not for us. We bought it for our families and others. No withholding, jumping in, and you know the beautiful love bedtime. It's not a fixed amount. If you get only 100 bucks, well, it's only gross. It's only 10 bucks. You get 1,000,000 bucks. It's what, 100,000? Is that right? Give me a calculator. See, when I first got saved, I didn't know what 10% mean. What's the what's that? What's the percentage? No idea. Finally they end up working in that very area of making deals and winning. And you know, so I had to self educate. That's cool, but you're way better to do school work anyway. Trusting God Fully: Letting Go of Worldly Wisdom You see, Jesus said this peace I leave you, John 14 verse 27, peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Listen to this he's he's here. It is not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled. Troubled neither, Let it be afraid isn't there? And Tristan not as the world gives and we're holding on to the Lord, and we love the Lord. It's genuine. I believe it with all my heart. I see the fruit of it and yet we're still holding on to something of the world and I want you free. I want you to let the world's wisdom go and grabs God's wisdom. Cause I know He'll look after you and I know you're gonna find a deeper level of peace and breakthrough because the enemies working on you. And it's a doorway and it's a way in that we can close today. God doesn't withhold from you that He has gained for you and that's everything. Listen, this trust in the Lord, this is one of the greatest scriptures. This is 1 you learn off by heart. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, not with part of your heart. When you get rid of the withholding spirit, you're trusting with all your heart. Trust in the Lord Church with all your heart, and lean here it is. Lean not on your own understanding. One eye back there and one eye there. That's a bit of a freaky looking look and it ain't a comfortable place. It ain't a happy place. That's not a peaceful place. There's a new level I believe you can go to and us as a church can go to. You know it's true, as this is often I can tell which ones tied and which ones don't. I'm talking to you like you know, I'm just bearing my heart and truth here today. Those who tie the found this, they seem to generally speaking, even though they go through tough stuff, to be more cheerful, not happy cheerful. There's like a joy there. Doesn't mean others don't. I'm not saying that. I'm just saying there just seems to be greater, greater level of resilience. They tend to have found serve harder. They tend to be more willing, more teachable. That's a big one right there. More teachable due withhold bits back because ohh I just learned to trust them and walk it out and sometimes might take a bit longer in some areas of my life but I've got the other things. Like for me time I just thought OK cool flat. I was giving way more to the pub. I was tired than 5080% and junk food at midnight with the munchies so this was it was just a number brainer. You know, they don't seem to have as many problems. More resilient. Why? Because fear and lack has sneered people and I know this one's here today. You need to hear this. I can't. I haven't got the time. I don't have the physical capacity either at the moment and nor should I have to, because really, you don't need my council in my office. You need the council from the pulpit. You know, most of most my whole life, Illinois, our council has been from the pulpit, not one-on-one. I've had very little one-on-one. And yet, man, some people get one-on-one like it's, you know, it saddens me sometimes. It's those who don't tide. They want me the most because they want me to do it for them. Now, I'll do it for anybody. I'd do it for my unsaved friends, for people also, you know me. You know who I am. You know what I do, right? It makes no bearing on me. But I'm just telling you my observation. But I'm lining it up with what God's Word sees 1st. And my observation matches God's Word. And so that tells me so much. But you gotta choose you this day whom you serve. And Matthew 6 fish 24 and 25 it says no one can serve 2 masters. For all that he will hate the one and love the other. God really makes it black and white or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. Imagine this who who's this one loyal the most to there? God or the world? God really takes us out of the ground. Something most of your life is actually lived in the grey. That's why it's a challenge. But there's somethings God pulls us out of the grey into the black and the white and he says he will either hate the one or love the other or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God. And Mammon, you might think what is Mammon? Mammon spelt speaks of the the, the material riches, material wealth. Mammen speaks of riches. Mammon speaks of profit. It's an old word we don't use today, but that's what it means. It it why? Is it because it has a corrupting ability? They even use it in eras of the occult and there's actually a diety called Mammon, a demon. So you can see why this gets really manifestly and people get their jocks in a knot and knickers in a dress. I'm not going to that church. They want my money. I don't want your money, but God does for your sake means he's like you don't want to give. He says don't worry about it then I've given you my council, it's up to you. Personal choice, personal sovereignty. What are you going to do? Well, for me it's pretty smart and clever to say, God, I'm obeying you. It's wonderful. So today, church, is the day to let go of the safety of the Cliff. Ain't no condemnation in that beautiful. He doesn't condemn you. I don't condemn you. Makes no difference. I keep loving, loving, loving, loving. But love also tells you the truth, and today we can let go of the Cliff and go. AK Lord, I had the faith to leap and I didn't even know fully why. But I knew it was right. So you might not know fully why now, but there's a faith and a trust. Ohh God. Yeah, now you can fly be an eagle. If you wanna be about a cute butterfly, I wanna be an eagle. There's some copy there. You know, eagle sounds cool to me. Bible says mount up with wings as eagles. So it's pretty cool. Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you eat or what you will drink. This is Jesus words nor about your body. What you will put on is not life more than food and the body more than clothing. Woohoo. Remember, God wants to give it all to you, so today's the day to seek first the Kingdom of God, His righteousness, and then what does He say? All these things shall be added to you. So we gotta repent of withholding. We're going to repaint of wealth holding. We've got to get on in these. You've got to do some business with God and say God, I'm sorry, Lord, you didn't withhold from me. Thank you so much, high five, you're crazy, but thank you for your craziness that you gave your life for me and loved me. I repent, I'm sorry. Ohh and you got leaders who can help and support and but you know what? Just hearing it and obeying it. You're so beautiful. Romans 832 finished with this, He who did not spare his own son. There it is, See that the nature and heart of God, He who did not withhold his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, all of us, how shall He not with Him also freely give us somethings? What does it say? All things. So that means you might not have all things today. I haven't got all things. I wouldn't mind that. Q8 Iris. Q8 Audi, I haven't got that. I might not never. I don't really care, but he says all things are mine, so maybe it's coming, maybe I don't get it. Who cares? But I would never allow it to get in the way of what I'd my honour and my love for Jesus Christ. Amen. Hey, don't withhold your time. Don't withhold you're going to church on a Sunday. I don't want to well that needs that needs knee time. I believe we need to get back to better. But getting on our knees, you know, when I was 4 cows on my knees upstairs praying. And I don't really do that a lot, but there's something about getting on your knees sometimes. And sometimes I think we need to get on our knees. So I don't think we really need to do business. God, because you might be tired, but you tithing offence, but you might be withholding with some time. You might be holding a gifting, you might be holding some of your love because you've been hurt. Everyone's been hurt, yes, some way more than others. And that's sad. But let's not let other people's rubbish stop us from being the best us. Hey man, I'm not gonna. Jesus gave my life. So I think, you know, forgive those who trespass against us as you forgive us our trespasses as the Lord's Prayer. You might need to forgive your spouse. You might need to forgive your children. You might need to forgive you framed your appearance. A policeman, a caregiver, you might need to forgive a pasta, you might need to forgive a church, you might need to give a friend. Because all of that is fallible. Bound to make mistakes, but Lord, you forgave me, so I'm forgiven him, unforgiven him, forgiven them, Lord. And I frequently put some names up there, situations up there just cause I just wanted to feel that peace and I could feel it. Beautiful. Wow. Don't withhold because God does not withhold from you. Isn't that amazing? A Call to Repentance and Soaring with God I want you to give God a big shout and stand to your feet today. Come on, let's give Him a shout because He's got the answers. Thank you, Father. You know, let's take a moment. Let's all close our eyes and right now examine your heart where you withholding from God, let the Holy Spirit speak to you. Let the word of God speak to you. In fact, the Holy Spirit is the one who brings the truth of his word to us. So it's the word that the Holy Spirit moves on. So is there an area it might be tossed offerings, it might be our abilities, it might be our time. You know, what about this said they're giving couple, you know, next three said days if you're not here because the things already been set up that couple understand that or try another time become part of the solution. You know what I mean. I'm going to give you a moment of silence. Just you and God. Maybe we could have a little bit of music from amazing Rag Reagan here. Just just do business with the Lord right now. You want to get on your knees, Get on your knees. You just want to stand there. Wow, just this is a place of leading. Go and say God, forgive me for holding on to the Cliff. Forgive me for holding on to my old stuff. Forgive me for holding on to the world's wisdom. Lord Father, forgive me. Today's a new day. You see, son, daughter, let's go. Let me put some fresh wing wind underneath your wings and soar. Let's get you out of that place of compromise and doing spiritual splits and let's move you forward because I've got so much more for you. Let the Father talk to you as his son and his daughter. Thank you, Father. You know, if you don't know Jesus, ask Jesus right now to come into your life. You want to be a believer. It's the most beautifulest, powerfulest thing you could ever do. Say Jesus, come into my life and forgive me of my sins. Jesus name you pray that in your heart right now, words to that affair man. I'll tell you he's in there and I want to encourage you. If you just prayed that prayer, I want you to keep coming back to church. And if you're not sure, give me the next 4 Sundays in a row. And if you don't find God is real in the next 4 weeks, Kapi be honest with you. I've never found someone who's done that, who hasn't found God deep more deeply because he's so real. You do it with open heart, He's gonna come in. Ohh. Have you let it go now have you let it go? Have you let the Cliff that little safety bit, that little whatever it might be you're dealing with God on. It's between you and God. You let it go and gone. Yep, I'm I'm, I'm carrying on with my leap of faith in Christ. Who you're a champions, you're amazing. You're best is yet to come. The life God wants to fill you with us. Incredible. The breakthroughs out of the old valleys and old patterns and old ruts. You're coming out of that, coming out of those old curses and demonic problems and you're coming into something new. Amen. Come on, give God a shout. Thank you Father, least your blessing Lord. Ohh. Release your goodness in Jesus name Amen. God bless you. Hey, we're going out on Tuesday 10:30 for probably two or three hours. I.