The God Who Gives

Welcome to the Jesus Image Podcast. I've been praying a lot about this series on Holy Generosity. To be honest and transparent as a pastor, I was a bit hesitant to do it just because I know that people misunderstand it and I didn't want just that my humanity, I think, got in the way and I didn't want people to be upset. My job is not to make you, my preeminent job is not to make you super happy. It's to see you conformed into the image of Jesus. So I actually need to repent for not teaching on this earlier. And I think part of the reason is because all of us, if you came up in the Charismatic Circles of Generation prior, there was so much excess in this area, so much improper, sinful teaching that it actually had a negative effect long-term. While people might give a big amount in the moment, they felt manipulated and so they just stopped giving altogether in many cases. And trust was broken. I actually had an interaction with a preacher one time who talked to me about offerings and I confronted the way he did them. And I actually told him, Jesse remembers right there in my nearer, where we used to live in California. I said, "You are smashing the people's seed before they ever get it out of their hand because you're calling them to place attention on themselves when they give." Some of the gimmicks, some of the methods are just absolutely unbiblical. So I want to be very clear about that. You've never seen that here. You never will. Not if I'm in the room. It's absolutely not the Scripture. But conversely, selfishness is absolutely not the Scripture. So having a tight hand cannot be the remedy. I'm going to provide over the next few weeks. Now next week I'm teaching on the coming of the Spirit. But I want you to know my heart. My heart is to disciple you and pastor you. I cannot disciple your heart. How many of you think that's important? The heart is the innermost place in the human existence. That's what God wants. He wants our heart, right? It is impossible for me, scripturally, I'm going to ask you just to grab a seed if you can. It is impossible for me to scripturally pastor your heart faithfully if I do not pastor your treasure. Because according to Matthew 6.21, Tucker, would you read Matthew 6.21? And then David, I just want you to turn to and not read till I call for it. Matthew 12, Mark 12, 41, through 34. Holy Spirit, help us today. Read that, would you talk? For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. So here the Lord Jesus connects the position and placement of the treasure of our treasure, our resources, our finances, to the position and placement or location of our heart. What my goal is, number one, it is to pastor you well. But in this setting, I want to simply share the scriptures with you. And this will be my theological method. In other words, how I'm going to go about this. I'm going to give you at least 50 passages, Old Testament and new, because I think the healthiest theological method is to look at the scriptures and then go to the fathers and then trace the church's language historically as we watch something progress. But regarding the fathers, it will not only be Catholic and Eastern church fathers. I'm actually going to point to Protestant theologians, evangelical theologians, and Martin Luther himself, which I think would all agree, would be considered a reformer. Yes or no, the chief and lead reformer. Once I do that, I want all of that to be placed on one table. And then I want you to decide based on what I said, if you think it's truth. Before we get started, we have to ask ourselves this question. Do the scriptures carry more authority than my perspective? Do they carry supreme authority as it pertains to the way I view the spiritual life? So it's healthy for you to ask yourself this question. How old are the scriptures? Who spoke them? How holy are they? Are they trustworthy? Questions like this. Did Jesus recite them, pray them, and preach them? Are the scriptures themselves as the word of God eternal? How much does God value His Word? We've got to get to this, guys. We've got to get to this, okay? And I actually think it's going to be a very healthy, wonderful journey that we're going to go on together. Are the scriptures charged with the presence of the Holy Spirit? Are they spoken? Are they released by the breath of God? These are just a few questions. Did the fathers use the scriptures to form the creed? What is the undergirding framework of the faith? Where do we ascertain our foundational beliefs when we say simple things like Jesus is God? Where are we pulling that from? Holy scripture. When we say things like He's fully man, where are we pulling that from? You say church tradition, where did they get it? What text was in front of them when they were working through the councils? Holy scripture. Just defined marriage, yes or no? Right. The scripture defines humanity. Our anthropology should come through the scriptures, what it looks like to be fully human. Our view of divinity flows from holy scripture. Our view of love, we find in the holy scriptures exemplified in the person of the Lord Jesus. You see, we take statements like this for granted. Jesus went to the whipping post. Well, how do you know? You read it in holy scripture. So we have to ask ourselves this question. What authority do the scriptures carry in my life? And does God bear the right and reserve the right to speak into every area of my life or just my church attendance? Now, it makes some of us uncomfortable to hear sermons like this because in a sense, our finance is unfortunately, we've made, like, untouchable. Pastor, you can talk to me about everything, but not this. Well, then I can't talk to you about everything. There's a basic math. I guess I can't talk to you about everything. The problem with that is your heart and your treasure are connected, so you want me to minister your heart, but not touch the treasure. I would venture to say that's impossible. What I submit to you this morning is that Jesus has no problem analyzing our giving. We read Mark 12, verses 41 to 44. Jesus said, "Opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury, and many who were rich put in much, but then one poor widow came and threw in two mites which make a quadrants." So he called his disciples to himself and he said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury, for they all put in out of their abundance, but she put out of her poverty put in all that she had her whole livelihood." All right, so let's put this in perspective. Sunday morning the buckets are here. If Jesus were in the room, he'd go like this. Bible says he sat opposite the treasury. There was a money box in the temple courts. Let's say I had two buckets right here. Jesus is going like this. He's watching you come down the aisle or not. If you come down with a check, he's actually reading it. I mean, he knows what they're giving. Make you uncomfortable? There's so many other churches that won't talk to you about this, but they find other ways of getting offerings. Trust me. Like a free conference and an up-charging conference giving you a free book and they just up-charging the conference the amount of the book. I don't know if you've seen the Catholic church, they're not exactly in poverty. They're the largest property owner on planet Earth. The Orthodox church owns the land that the Kineset meets on in Israel. This whole thought that financial blessing is not from the Lord, I challenge you to see if that is what the Scripture teaches. And we've got to stop. people who have any level of success in their field. I don't understand that. It's so foreign to me, especially my background on athletics, if you achieve something and you are compensated for it, where did that become? That in and of itself become bad. I have a few questions for you. Okay, if the amount of money in your account is connected to holiness, okay, here's the question then, how much in your account makes you unholy? Is there a number? Let's just speak very maturely here. If you're nervous, good. It'll be good for you. Because it, this ends in a beautiful place. Okay, give me the number. How much income makes somebody an unholy vessel? Okay, hold on now. My next question. How little income makes you holy? Now, if you grew up where I grew up, you would have discovered very quickly that there were some poor people who were bad people. And the same applies to having a lot of money. There were a bunch of people with a lot of money who were bad people. But the thought that income determines holiness is a lie. Yeah, I mean, I'm still waiting on the number. Have you been in an Anglican Cathedral? Do you think they cost $8? Do you think the Pope flies Southwest? Well, a lot of it, I'm telling you, a lot of our mindset has been corrupted. And we issue judgment toward others that we would never issue toward ourselves. Example, I kick it with a lot of missionaries. And one of them was like, oh, this big church, they bring in a lot of money. And I'm just very careful to kick it with them. And I go, don't you receive a monthly stipend from them as a missionary? Well, yeah, I'm like, well, then if you don't like, I'm just return to check. Why aren't you going to other missionaries for funding? Because you can just start to go fund me. What if we had, don't get me started. Being another wonderful missionaries that we support every month, and I'm going to get into that. But this mentality is not scriptural. OK. So my friend, Paul Teske, was meeting with his leaders. I love this story. A chaplain in the Navy, a theologian went to the Lutheran seminary in Germany, a charismatic, an amazing man I call him, the Christian John Wayne. Rebus theology, powerful, anointing, served our nation. He's been serving on our board of directors since 2008. He met with his team once when he was pastoring. And he said, how consistent is your giving? Because these were his leaders. And he understood that giving was connected to the heart. So they said, you can't ask us that. He goes, let me tell you something. He goes, if God called me to keep your behind at a hell, I can talk to you about your money. I said, what an answer. You are such a G. I love this guy. I submit to you that Jesus, in Mark's gospel, sits and analyzes the giving culture in the temple. Is that in your Bible or not? That means he does it today. In a meticulous manner, so much so that he says, you are giving isn't as valuable as this widows. And he's watching each and every one of them. Now, what would happen at Jesus' image? If we lined up the ushers to analyze every check that came forward and watched you on the screen when you scanned the QR code. Not that we would do that, but it seems that Jesus does not have a problem doing it. But here we see how the Lord determines value. Listen carefully. Not by how much you give, but by how much is left over once you do. And that-- did you hear that? Not by how much goes out, but by how much is left over. In other words, she gave out of her lack you gave out of your abundance. And when I look, when I look, just to be honest with you, the motive here is not to get more money. And that's not God's motive either. It's to get more of our hearts. Regarding our building, I don't want to share the actual percentage breakdown, but the overwhelming-- I mean, the sadly overwhelming majority of the funds that have come in for the building that you will be singing in. The building that Esther's team will be changing diapers for your children and grandchildren. The building where many will be honored in their funerals, where teams will show up no matter what the need is, the building that if you're in a bind, you will come to Ann Mietin or seek the Lord in during the week or bring your diseased family into other people who are never going to walk through those doors and never have are paying for the majority of that building. As a local pastor who has-- and this is my chief assignment in my eyes. It's not what the Lord does with me in the ministry around the nations. I value it. But my chief responsibility is the well-being of the flock. And for me, throw the spiritual scriptural-- which I hate to even say like this-- let's just remove that for a moment. Ethically, does it seem right to have others pay for something that you will get to enjoy? Yes or no? No, it doesn't. That doesn't work anywhere. This year, Jessica and I, about 10 months ago, made a commitment that stretched us. We've never given anything like that. And it took months for us to get there. And finally, by God's grace, three weeks ago, we were-- two weeks ago, we were able to fulfill the number that we vowed. And I'm going to get into that later. What the Scriptures teach about a vow. If you made a vow towards the building fund, it's better the Scripture says that you don't make the vow than to make the vow and not fulfill it. So what the Bible says. We were able to fulfill the vow. And you know what happened? I was so excited I sent a message to our team and our financial department. We did it. I just wanted someone to celebrate with me. But you know what happened right after? I told Jeff, we've got to do this again right now. Start right now. Start right now. The moment we got that in, it felt so amazing. I said, let's double it. Oh, because I mean, how can I lead you if I'm not living it? Let me give you some data real quick. I mentioned this last week vaguely, but I want you to think of this. 2,000 total passages and verses relate to money and possessions across the entire Scripture. 2,000. How many, how many mentioned prayer? It's like 3,400. I don't know. Not the prayers I'm important. My point is maybe God is getting to something. Maybe He knows something about the human makeup that we need freedom in. OK, let me give you some more data. 11 of 39 parables. OK, 500 regarding prayer, 2,000 regarding our finances. Possibly holding on and living a selfish life actually affects your prayer life. 11 of 39 parables directly concern money and possessions. 11 of 39. What is that? 25%? 25% of the parables of Jesus directly address money. One in 10 verses in the gospels deals with money. The Bible speaks more about money than any other moral subject or ethical subject. In the Scriptures. This is amazing. When it comes to giving behavior worldwide in the church or let's just not worldwide, in America and in some Western nations. Listen to this, listen to this number. Roughly, I mean the estimations are, they're a bit vague. But let's just say around 25 to 30%. Oh, sorry, sorry. Between 30 to 40%. So almost half of believers in our context give nothing at all and a given year to their local church. Yet the new iPhone comes out and they've got it. These broke until the new, until they need their daily coffee. How much is a latte these days? Nine bucks. Where are you going for a latte? (audience laughing) Almond milk is nine dollars, whatever. I don't even know what to say. You're not doing that anymore either. That I heard that. Everyone's broke, listen, until they want something. Let's be honest. Roughly 40%, or 30% to 40% give them nothing to their local church in a given year. I hope you're not one of those. For your own heart, I hope you're not one of those. To live such a life without knowing is to declare, I should say to live such a life, is to without knowing, declare that you yourself have become the gift. And that you are the exact gift God is looking for. And that we have the liberty to redefine what God has asked for. So in other words, since I won't give my money, I will sing an extra song in church and sing super loud. That does not make up for it. We give the Lord what he has asked for. We give God gifts that move him. And I also wanna say that if you say your part of Jesus' image, part, it's different than saying I attend. But if you say your part of Jesus' image, I can't speak to other churches. This is a generous church. Our team will tell you every single month, thousands of dollars goes out to firt of the gospel around the world, to feed the hungry, to build churches. When there's a disaster, we are stepping in with groups like Samaritan's Purse, we're funding missionaries in Africa. That has been the behavior. We're helping our local community here. Most months when we start sewing, we fund other churches in town. Some don't even like us. Now I want you to think of that for a minute. There are churches, listen, in town, who do not legitimize our baptism. Because it's not according to their tradition. Yet when I look at them, I say, God is using them. They don't need to like me in order for God to use them. So their liking of me doesn't determine my generosity towards them. We haven't even, I'm just being honest. Oh, this is a good meeting. We haven't even gotten a thank you letter from most of them. Not one, but I don't give. We don't give as a ministry to get thank you letters. We give to glorify the name of the Lord and because he said so. There have been churches that have been robbed. They lost everything. This church stepped in immediately and replenished it in one check. Heidi is supported, I think, just about monthly and has been for years. Not because we have to, but because we get to. Jessica and I, we want to be the most faithful givers in the church and the most faithful givers towards the building. Now whether or not that happens, who knows, but we're trying. So I can say unequivocally, culturally in this house, we are generous. So to say you're part of Jesus' image, this is my local family. And you're not sacrificial and rhythmically giving. I would just say right off the bat, that's not who we are. We give joyfully and we give often. And that's why I can speak with such a boldness here. Now, one of the most liberating texts that ever touched my life is this one. "Tuck, would you read Second Corinthians 9-7?" So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity for God loves a cheerful giver. Right, so E is V would read, "Each one must give as he has decided in his own heart, most of us decide with brain. Giving is not a matter of brain. It doesn't say wherever your brain is, your treasure will be there, your treasure, your brain. You have to decide in your heart, which is a much deeper experience. That means God can get to it. That means reason and process can ultimately and often get in the way of sacrificial giving. 'Cause you can reason yourself right out of it. I can't afford to give. No, you can't afford to not give. And if you're married, I want you wives to become the generosity police like Jesse is in our marriage. You have every right in the world to get up into the life of your husband and say, "Show me the books." What are we doing? I'm dead serious. If I miss a tithe, Jesse's like the Gestapo. Did you tie that you had to tie? Babe, I haven't even gotten a check into the bank yet. Did you tie it? Did you tie it today where we were sitting there during worship? Send me the giving link. Send me the give of any to tie it. It wasn't a huge amount. But wives, use your influence. Make sure your husband is being diligent. We owe it to each other. We owe it to the Lord. And we owe it to our children. This level of obedience. It's a wonderful gift. Now, Tucker read this beautiful verse. And clearly the verse tells us we shouldn't give her reluctantly or under compulsion. But God loves a cheerful giver. So this is what God is saying. Hey, if you don't want to do it, don't do it. I don't want your money that bad. (audience member speaks off mic) That's what God's saying. Thanks, but no thanks. Now, if I wanted your money right now, why would I read this verse? Why would I say it that way? God is fine saying, "Hey, you don't have to. If you don't want it, I don't want it from you." If you think this is a chore. Because God is an after the dollar amount. He wants your heart. You say, "What's that God to do with it?" I just told you where your treasure is, there it will be. Now, Billy Graham said, "I can know everything I need to know about a man by looking at two things. His calendar and his checkbook." That's Billy Graham. That's not a guy on a telephone. It's Billy Graham. He's not selling spring water or water from the Jordan or a night light that looks like a lion or offering you a prayer show. He's not doing any of that. It's Billy Graham for crying out loud. America's pastor. How many of you would say Billy Graham lived a wonderful testimony before the Lord and said, "I think we'd all say that." He said, "I can know everything about a man by looking at how he spends his time and what he does with his resources." If you love Jesus, you spend time with him. If you love Jesus, you give to his work. So giving is about love. It's about the heart. And yes, it's about gratitude. Giving is about gratitude. It is about love. It is about the heart. Now, when God creates Adam and Eve, He gives them the world. We're gonna get into this in a moment. And there's one tree they can't touch at creation. He goes, "You can have it all, not this one." And here we begin to discover the nature of God regarding our finances with first fruits and tithe. You can have it all, but this one is mine. And across the board, listen to this. Across the board, studies estimate that about 10% of professing evangelicals tithe. And when I say tithe, saying I tithe 2%, doesn't make any sense because the word means 10th. You know what I mean? So the actual word means first 10th. So to say, "Well, I tithe 4%, no, that's not a tithe. That's an offering." It's good, but it's not a tithe. Most Christians in the West, listen, this is staggering. Most Christians in the West, across the board, if you were to create a percentage. The percentage of income they give to the church on the average is 2%. 2% of their income they give back to God. When the scriptures clearly declare that it is God who gives us the power to gain wealth. Now I'm not talking about mansions. I'm talking about you putting a roof over your head. And by the way, how small does a house need to be for that to be a holy house? How big should a house be? I mean, what point is it too big? I don't know. That's between you and the Lord. But if God gives us the power to gain wealth, that means none of us can hold a job without the power of God. That means every dollar that comes in is the goodness of God. Amen? If God gives us that ability or that grace, that power to gain wealth, and only 2% of income nationwide goes to the work of God in the richest nation in the world. What are we expressing to God? Studies also show that the more somebody makes, they actually begin to, why should I say, if you have a group of people that make more money, the percentage of tithing actually goes down, because man and grip them. Listen to this. In most churches, please grab a seat. Some people rolled, they're like, "I can't do this teaching." Love you so much, God bless you. All right. Isn't it sad? This is the Bible. It's the Bible. And I want to plant churches all over the world. And I want to see the poor taking care of. My dream would be to build a hospital one day somewhere. You think it's just going to require selfishness? No, radical generosity. I want to go to the grave with that imprint. I want my kids to understand it is an honor to give to the Lord. In most churches, listen. Roughly 10 to 20% of the people carry 90% of the financial load. That means in context like this, because there's so many of us, it's natural to look around and go, "They got it." They'll take care of it. I don't need to. They'll take care of it. So we look around and go, "I don't need to give," because they will. And you know what ends up happening? 10% of the people carry 90% of the financial demand. In the Old Testament, listen. In the Old Testament, if you were to total the first tithe, I'm just going to give you some basic theological perspective here. The first tithe, which was 10% that was given to the Levites, there was also a second tithe that was used for feasts in Jerusalem. So now we're at 20%. I'm just going to give you the Old Testament, operate it. The third tithe that came every third year, which was given to Levites, foreigners, widows, and orphans, noticed the first two are actually given to the House of God. Some people say, "I don't give House of God. I like to give the poor." I'd like to challenge. I want to follow you around with a GoPro and see how much money you're actually giving to the poor out there. Please, and I'll do it. You see me behind you? Every third year, this would be like the third tithe. This would require about three to four percent of the income. So by the end of the day, you're looking at about 24% of the ancient Jewish culture was, they were giving about 24% of their income. So the Lord. Other required giving that's not called tithe was the gleaning law. In other words, you would leave crops for the poor, which is very important. The first fruit's offering, and then other sacrifices and contributions. So we total about maybe 25% of their income. Okay, so here's my question. Here's my question. In case you've thought that the tithe is for another day, that it's only law. We'll get to that in the next few weeks, too. But here's just a very basic, down-to-earth question. Assuming you don't believe in the tithe because you think it is a law, do you believe in the Sabbath? Because the Sabbath actually predates the law. It's mentioned in the law. And the tithe predates the law, and it's mentioned in the law. So if you like to chill one day a week, but don't like to give, it's a worthy question of answering. Assuming you don't tithe because it is law, and now under the new covenant, does the new covenant command and invite us into less giving than the law? Oh, y'all are quiet. This been the best day of my pastorate. Theological question. Does new covenant grace energize me into less in any area of the Christian existence than under the law? So does new covenant grace, by the way, when I'm in grace there, I don't mean like, get away free card. I mean the energizing power of the Holy Spirit, the hottest of God, that which makes normal people servants of the Lord. God uses us beyond our capacity. Amen? Okay. Now, in what area of Christian living does the Holy Spirit produce less than the law required as far as our life? So should we live less holy? You sure? No, less anointed, less bold, less free? No, should there be less healing? Do we see less healing or more? More. So I submit to you that under the New Testament, the grace of God should empower us and quicken us to give more. So fine, if you say, tie this under the law, great. That's kindergarten then. It's kindergarten. So in what biblically sound environment or life does grace produce less than law? And in the most loving way I would say this, the bulk of this house gives much less than what the law commands. And again, God does not want our money. He wants the heart. Where do we find our perspective on giving? Every perspective in the life of the Christian comes from and it finds its definition in the person of God. So our outlooks, our doctrines, our theologies we find in the person of the Lord. Our God, listen carefully, our God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Say amen. - Talk back to me. - Good. - And he is perfectly revealed in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, the patterned Son. Say amen. This wonderful trinity, listen, is self-giving to each other. So I'm not finding my belief system here merely in scriptures that are telling us to do the giving. I'm trying to explain to you now who our God is because that's a more foundational viewpoint if we're gonna build a theology there and a way of life. So we look to the trinity, listen, who is totally self-giving, who have been communing with one another for eternity. Within the trinity, you have a unity of will, a unity of substance. There is no competition in the trinity. And each member of the trinity loves to give glory to the other. Each member of the trinity is fully God. So the Holy Spirit isn't 40% God. The Son, 22% God, and the Father doesn't make up the rest. No, each member of the trinity is fully God and they gladly and eternally listen, news or word here, give themselves to each other. One God, three persons, one in substance. That's what we repeat in the creed every week. The Father is eternally the Father. Why is he eternally the Father? Because he eternally begets the Son. The Son is eternally begotten of the Father. That's what makes him the Son. And the Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father. And they are constantly giving of themselves to one another. Tucker read John 14 verses 10 to 11. And this is about giving. It's because who our God is. Go ahead. John 14, 10 and 11. Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does His works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me or else believe on the account of the works themselves. This is amazing. So Jesus saying, look, the Father is in me and I am in Him. Here we see this constant giving, this eternal communion, the giving of self to one another fully. David, would you read John 17 verses 21 through 24? That they all may be one as you, Father, are in me. In me, and I in you. That they also may be one in us. That the world may believe that you sent me. And the glory which you gave me, I have given them. - Given? - That they may be one. Just as we are one, I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfect in one. And that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me. - Listen carefully to the language. I'll keep reading, David. - Father, I desire that they also whom you gave. - Who you gave? - Me. - Maybe with me, where I am, that they may be hold my glory. Which you have given me. - Given. - Keep going. - For you loved me before the foundation of the world. - Oh, this is amazing. So here we see the Father giving Himself to the Son, the Son giving Himself to the Father, same regarding the Spirit. We see these few words. Oneness and givenness. I submit to you, giving and unity are connected. God is the original giver and his giving nature predates his giving of himself to us because before you and I were even in the picture father, son, and spirit giving themselves to one another. Therefore I say boldly and clearly we serve a God who is a giver. His children, I'm not even talking about what he's given humanity, that's coming up in a bit. God gives himself father, son, and spirit to each member of the Trinity gladly and willfully so much so that they are in one another. We call this eternal communion. Therefore his children, those who say I carry his DNA, we should be givers. It doesn't make sense to not be a giver and call yourself a child of God. All right. I'm gonna close here in a minute but I just want to and talk go to act 17 25 then David you to James one five. Now we're gonna talk about God's giving toward us. We talked about God's giving within the Trinitarian beautiful community. Now we'll talk about God's giving toward humanity. Why is this important gratitude? What has God given us and I by the end of this I want to ask ourselves this question. What does it require from us? What should it produce? Go ahead. Acts 17 25 David you'll go to James one five. Nor is he served by human hands as though he needed anything since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. What does God give? Oh just life breath and everything. That's all. It is so hard to become a tyder and I'm so grateful. God gave life breath and everything and you're freaking out. That's why it's the shallow end. It's kindergarten and let's just say that's a big jump. Well then start I mean gosh start somewhere. What has God given? Oh I don't know these are pretty small little category subcategories here. Life breath that's kind of important. Why don't you hold it for three minutes? See how it goes for the rest of the day and and all things. What about the creed? We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and the giver the giver of life. The Holy Spirit gives us life. Put a price tag on it and God just saying don't touch that tree. Can you do that? Adam you can eat every avocado from here to the horizon. Every mango you can run around naked doing it. You tell him not you tell him not to touch this one thing. Just one just this one don't touch. What is it about us? They can't just let God have what he said. This is mine. The Lord and the giver of life, the Holy Spirit. Keep read that James 1 5 there David. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him. Wow God gives liberally wisdom. Wisdom. How to go about your life in a godly way. Tuckery James 1 17. This is awesome. This next one. Give me five more minutes. James 1 17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above coming down from the father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. What does God give? Every good gift. And where does it come from above? I think that merits a response. I do. David what about John 3 16? I think this is a big one. God gave. Read that David and then Tuck you're going to go to Romans 8 32. For God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son. That's a big deal. Gave his only begotten son. He gave his heart away. I don't ask you today. How valuable is the giving of the son? Wow. Tuck Romans 8 32. He who did not spare his own son but gave him what? Say it out loud. But what? Say it again. Keep reading. But gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Wow. God gave us his son and then Paul writes to the Romans. How will he not graciously give us all things? It is not Christian to hold back from God. Why? Because I'm telling you who he is. David go to Genesis 15 8. Oh no sorry sorry. Go to Genesis 1 28 through 31 and Tuck you'll go to Genesis 15 18 and then we'll close. Okay so hold on let me just let me just say this. God gives us wisdom. He gives us life. He gives us breath. He gives us every good gift. It comes from the Father of lights. He has given us his son. He has given us all things according to Romans 8 in his son. And now here we're going to read in Genesis 1 28 through 31 that he has given us the earth. Read it. Then God bless them and God said to them, be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves on the earth. And God said see I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of the earth. And every tree whose fruits yield seed to you it shall be for food. Also to every beast of the earth to every bird of the air and to everything that creeps on the earth in which there is life I have given every green earth to you. What a generous God. Keep reading David. And it was so. Then God saw everything that he had made and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. So God done God done give scraps. He gave humanity the earth and then gave them the best from the earth and then to make it even better he feeds the animals. God gives us the earth and we come into his presence without an offering. What about Isaiah 9-6? Yeah, actually put it up. Isaiah 9-6, I'll read this one. For unto us a child is born unto us a given. Son is given. What is to what is giving? To take what is in my hands and give it away. So God gave his son. God gave the earth. He's given every great gift that all comes from above. In James 1-5 he gives us wisdom. He gives it generally. Without reproach he gives us all things. He has given us the spirit. He has given us life. He has given us the earth. He gives ancient Israel a massive land and Genesis 15-18 to your offspring. I give this land. How big is it from the river of Egypt to the great river the Euphrates? Try flying across America and see if God has a problem giving liberally. In Revelation 3 he has given us a throne. Read that real quick. About three more minutes. Read that David. Talk, you're going to read Luke 22-29-30. Read that. Revelation 3-21. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my throne. Whoa, you get a throne? I just read you a whole list of things God gives. Now he gives a throne. Talk, read that. And I bestow upon you a kingdom. Just as my father restowed one upon me. You get a kingdom? Wait, you get a kingdom. And you hold on. Am I giving you Bible? Please tell me if I'm not. I just gave you 20 verses. You get all this. And you hold on. Luke 11-13. Read that David. And then talk, you're going to go to 118, James 118. Read that David. If you then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will your heavenly father give the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit? You get a kingdom, the thrones, the Spirit. You've received the Son. The earth. Every good gift. Turkey read James 118. Brought us forth by the word of truth that we might be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. He gave you the word? The incorruptible, all glorious word of God. He gave that to you too. I hope you're taking notes. He's giving you a lot. David Quick, John 1028. And I give them eternal life. Whoa! How much more do you want me to add? Just eternal life. That's it. Turkey, John 651. Hallelujah. He's right. He's done so much for us. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I shall give is my flesh. Which I shall give for the life of the world. He gave his flesh? Look at me. I don't care if you're bored. 100,000 churches just down the road. I'm talking about the flesh of Jesus. I'm going to preach the truth here. Thank you for the applause. I appreciate it. Listen to me. He gave his body for food. What's that worth? Luke 22, 20, David. I promise you we're done after John 1017 and 18. You're going to read that. Likewise, he also took the cup after supper saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood which is shed for you. But behold, the hand of my betrayer is with me on the table. And truly, the Son of man goes as it has been determined. But woe to the man by whom he is betrayed." Whoa! He gave his blood. Can we do the math here? If I'm not giving you Bible, don't believe what I'm saying. We serve a generous God. Hold on. Hold on. Let me just work through this economy here. He has given mankind life. He's given him breath. He's given him everything. Hope you're writing. He is the Lord and the giver of life. He's given us wisdom in James 1.5 and he gives generously to all who ask for it. In James 1.17, he's given every good and perfect gift and it comes from above. Of from above, that means it's supposed to be bathed in his presence. He's given us his son, John 3.16. He's given us everything in his son, Romans 8.32. Genesis 1.28 and 31. And by the way, the meek inherited the earth. That's an amazing gift. I don't know. The world. That's big. He gave ancient Israel their own nation. And it covered the land from the river of Egypt, in other words the Nile, to the great Euphrates. He's given us a throne, Revelation 3.21 and Luke 22. He's given us his spirit, Luke 11.13. He's given us his Word, James 1.18. He's given us eternity, John 10.28. He's given us his flesh, John 651. He's given us his blood, Luke 22.20. Read John 10.17, Tuck. "Therefore, my father loves me because I lay down my life that I might take it again. No one takes it from me but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from my father." He gave himself flesh, blood, heart, everything about him. Soul, humanity, divinity, he has given himself to his people. There's not a fiber of his existence that he has not given away to his people. And we think it's a big deal in the sight of all of heaven, in light of everything. His spirit, His Word, His promises, the earth. Is it such a massive step to say, "You have my finances." That's cheap. You have my Lord. I'll die for you. My finances, that's just a small part of it. You have my schedule, you have my time, you have my dreams. Of course, of course. If the entirety of my life is to be represented in the Christian life, of course my finances must be included. This is who I want us to be. I'm not looking for an amount to raise. I've never done that. I don't, that's not the heart. Of course, we need a certain amount for the building. These are just realities. But that's not the purpose of this. I'm looking to see a certain kind of person emerge. You know what happens when I'm in this room and the sisters are here? They start writing checks and giving offerings. Or scanning the QR code. Talk about those who have the least. They live by faith. Bakery's and Phoenix would donate their bread goods to the sisters. Who, by the way, we support every single month and we will until Jesus returns. There'd be no Jesus image without them. Of course we give. Do you see how that works? You touched me here. Paul said, "If I'm touching you spiritually, doesn't that merit material response?" We serve the God of the incarnation. The natural things in our life should resemble what's happening in here. I want us to be that. I want us to be the most generous church on the earth. I don't know if we'll get there. But that's my goal. Because that's what Jesus is like. Would you stand to your feet? Let's give the Lord all the praise for His goodness. He's been so good. Look at what He's given us. Hallelujah. And unless you're on the ministry team, I'm going to ask that nobody move. Unless you're on the ministry team. I'm going to ask you just to bow your head and close your eyes. Feel very, very, very strong anointing for people today. Would you just bow your head and close your eyes? The Lord Jesus loves us. I preached on the love of God in Minneapolis and something happened in my heart. And as I'm reading these scriptures even to you this morning, look at all the Lord has given us, Himself, His self, my word, His blood, His flesh, His own word, His precious promises, He's given us the church, He's given us the holy, holy text of the living God. He protects us. He supplies us. He fills us. He heals our broken hearts. He heals our broken bodies. He's the Lord and the giver of life and the physician of souls and bodies. There's nobody like Jesus, friend. Please listen to me. All over this room. Listen to me. What Jesus wants right now in this moment more than anything is you. And I feel the mercy of God flowing and operating this morning. A God with an outstretched arm. God with an outstretched arm is looking to you right now. Saying, "You just heard Michael. You just heard Michael. List just a few of the things, few of these glories that I've given you that I want to give you. But there must be an exchange. And so this morning the Lord Jesus is inviting you to not hold on to yourself and give yourself to him. And I promise you, friend, listen, listen, listen. Just think in this exchange, in this exchange, you give Jesus your sin and He gives Himself to you. Who gets the better deal, friends? My God. My God, do not hold on to your sin this morning. Do not hold on to your own plans. Do not hold on to your own brokenness. Give yourself away this morning to the Lord Jesus Christ. Let Him, let Him have you completely. Let Him have your life. Give Him your life because He's worthy as the crucified and risen Lord. Only He's worthy of our lives. And He has earned the name above every name the Bible says through the death of the cross. You feel that in your heart this morning. But you need to give your life to Jesus and let Him have it. I want you to lift your hand and put it back down. You put it back down once you've lifted it. Thank you, Father. I want us all to pray out loud. I give you praise, which can we lift our hands to the Lord? Pray with me. I want the whole house to pray, but especially those who lift at their hands. Heavenly Father, forgive my sin. Wash me in the precious blood of Jesus. Cleanse my soul. Set me free from the chains of darkness and from the power of the devil. day I repent of my sin. I turn from my sin. I renounce my sin. I renounce the ways of this world and I renounce the devil himself. And I turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and I give him my spirit. I give him my soul. I give him my body. precious Jesus. I trust in the work of the cross and your shed blood. I trust in your resurrection and I declare that you are the Son of God and I belong to Jesus Christ forever. precious Jesus come and live in my heart. Save my soul. Set my heart on fire. Let me be your servant. In Jesus holy and precious name. Amen. Amen. Can we give the Lord all the praise? 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