Bible Teaching

Calvary Temple Teaching Library

Worship in Giving Pt.3

Lets turn to 2 Chronicles, chapter 24. There is the parallel passage over in 2 Kings, chapter 12. This is talking about Joash. The young king came into his reign at seven years of age. The Scripture tells us that he actually ruled for about forty years. The Scriptures says in Chronicles 24:2 that "...Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest." It is pretty important to have wise counsel, isn't it? We see in young Joash as he was receiving the admonition of Jehoiada the priest that he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord. The word of God was being put into this young man, and the Spirit of God preparing his heart. The Scripture says in verse 4, "And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to repair the house of the Lord. And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened it not." When you read the 2 Kings, chapter 12, parallel passage you get a little more detail. I'm not going to get bogged down into that; but as you read it and wonder exactly what is going on there. They were talking about that that was to go out and there was a census that was taken periodically from those that were in the household of faith from twenty to sixty years old. There was an amount that was to be paid for them. The women of that same age, an inferior account, from infancy to the five-year olds had one, then of course, the over sixty group had another particular fee that they paid. This was something that was similar to a temple tax. It really had to do with a census. It had to do with honoring God, and a recognition. This was something that had not been done regularly, and when it was done it wasn't appropriated properly. The priest was using it some for their own purposes, and Joash said, "I want this put back in order. I want the money to be gathered and all is to be put toward repairing the House of God."

We understand as we read through this passage in verse 7, "For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also [defiled] all the dedicated things of the house of the Lord did they bestow upon Baalim." We realize, then, that the House of God had been deserted and defiled. Joash had it on his heart to restore the House of the Lord and the glory of the Lord; but the Levites and the priests, it says, didn't hasten to it. They didn't go out, and they weren't diligent about these matters. This was something that was burning in the heart of young Joash; but the weak link here again was the priesthood, the leadership. The understanding was that the people had a heart to give, they just weren't being opportunity. This is where the heart was. It makes it very clear here what happened.

"And the king [verse 6] called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why has thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, [This gives us an understanding of what this collection was.] according to the commandment of Moses...." He says, "Why hasn't this been done?" And, since you haven't given people opportunity, we're going to give them this opportunity so that none are slighted the opportunity to worship, and given the chance to honor God.

Verse 8 says, the solution to this was--because of the lack of the diligence of the leadership--"...at the king's commandment they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the Lord. And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the Lord the collection that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness. And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end." The one thing that I've always seen is that God's people will respond to the heart of God. His people. Given opportunity God's people will respond to His presence. Usually there is somebody standing in the way, or somebody that isn't bringing a clear message. There are a lot of messages that is being sent today.

Somebody handed me this article just before service. I thought it might be interesting. This tells you where the spirit is. Now remember, we're talking about guarding our hearts against this spirit. There is no way you can go out, every day, into the marketplace and not be vexed. Every time we set foot outside the door, every time we turn on the radio, every time we turn on the television, every time we go on the Net, you're being vexed by some spirit of Antichrist in this age that we're in. To all different degrees, but we're being vexed. The church is being vexed, and we need to guard ourselves. Some of the great men of God of our day are being brought down. I don't know about you, I don't delight in any way in what I see and think that we're superior in any way. I tremble at seeing men that are greater than I am fall. It's a frightening thing, it's a humbling thing, and it's a grievous thing. I weep when I see men that I admired and aspired, somehow, to walk in the simplicity of their message that have been destroyed by this spirit. It's interesting, it's just a little article and says,

"More than 2,000 ministers, church leaders and business people gathered at Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church in Northeast Washington yesterday for a leadership conference at which televangelist T. D. Jakes advised them to start running their churches like corporations, complete with marketing schemes.

Jakes, pastor of the 26,000-member Potter's House in Dallas, has made millions of dollars during the past decade selling books and tapes and making music. Yesterday, church leaders paid $50 to hear his message of success.

"What is unique about your ministry? You must know the pond that you are swimming in," said Jakes [That's worth $50 right there], who told the ministers that they need to know more than the Bible. He said: "Know what you bring to the marketplace...know who to team up with...know what it costs to build your dream...know the power of a great decision and, lastly, know that the power to get wealth is in you."

Jakes, who has drawn criticism is some religious circles for emphasizing prosperity and success, said he is "not marketing the Gospel. I see it as supplying a demand. If I go too far, all they need to do is stop demanding it."

Time Magazine's Minister of the Year.

Is that the perfect quote of heaping up teachers, having itching ears? This is the spirit--this is the age that we live in. Sad! The emphasis is on man and man's glory, and man's ease, and man's prosperity, and man's gain. All that we see in the Word of God, of course we need to know more than the Bible (we're admonished in our seminar), but the Bible doesn't bring that message. The Bible doesn't say power to get wealth is in us. The Bible says, "It is the Lord that makes rich and adds no sorrow" (Proverbs 10:22). The Bible says, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all the necessities of life will be added unto you"(Matthew 6:33). So, we are called to a place of recognizing who it is that are the people of God. This is what Joash was doing. He said, "If the people are given opportunity, they'll respond. The people love God." So often it is the leaders that get in their way. They don't give them an opportunity. They're not bringing them the greatest of gifts, and that is being able to forsake all and follow Him. It is the greatest investment method in the Scriptures; and yet one that not many people like to share.

As we talk about the Joash Chest, here a little bit, and the restoration of the House of God, this was an ongoing process and it brought the restoration of the Lord's house. We're going to be giving opportunity as we go on here. What I want you to do right now is to be prayerful; and next Sunday morning we will be taking an offering for Africa and Missions in general. Be prayerful, come, and we're going to minister to that particular need at that time. We will keep you abreast as to where we are in that part of the ministry.

We encourage you to--I don't know if the Joash Chest is still on our envelopes. If not, you can just write it in. Begin now to prayerfully and systematically begin to give in to the Joash Chest. That is something that is used in many different ways. We're going to be expanding here soon, and of course it will be going toward that. As you know, there is all of the other maintenance and everything that takes place here. So often, most of the time of the year that is taken care of out of the general fund. As we continue to go on in the year, we will let you know how that is being done. Then, as we get ready to make a push toward this giving, start preparing yourself, because somewhere here starting in the next 90 days, I assume, we're going to start needing some chunks of money. It will go on for a good period of time. Probably about six months that we're going to be in this particular mode. The amount of money that we need, the minimum amount that we'll be needing, is probably going to require of us at that time to add five percent, five percent, because there was some confusion--people were asking, to your tithe. In other words, take half of your second tithe, that was something that you were setting aside for ministry to bless yourself, to refresh yourself, and all of these different things. If you have that stored up and have not been able to use that in any way, as a number of people have told me, then this is an opportunity, then, to be able to sow into the kingdom. You'll be able then to start putting away that for yourself again and refresh yourself. That second tithe is what gets you your teaching tapes. The second tithe is what sends your kids on the mission trips. The second tithe, all that is used to refresh yourself in ministry. It's also a resource that's there that every third year, that second tithe would go to the Levites, it would go to the poor etc. These are things that can be redeemed in these particular areas. So, what we are looking at is just increasing over that period by about five percent. So, in other words, if you're tithing $100.00 a week now, then it would be $150.00. That's what we're believing God for. That is going to be a way that will allow us to move into this particular project and come out of it just exactly the way we are, absolutely debt free, and continuing to move in that vain. If it takes longer for the monies to come in, then it takes longer. We're not going to borrow any money. We're going to do it as we go; and we're going to wait as long as we can before we blow the walls out of here and have to move. There is going to be a moving day to the gym, and then we'll just stay there until we're done. As we said before, that, of course, will be a good experience. Some have not been able to experience taking chairs up and down every service. When we dismiss here, it just won't be adiós. It's going to be picking your chair up and carrying it over and setting it up, and making sure that the floors are swept, and everything is ready for the following day. It's going to be a lot more work and a lot more inconvenience for as long as it takes to do the project. That is what's ahead. Be prayerful and begin to prepare your heart for that. I hope that clears up any of the questions that were asked.

Okay, the commercial is over. Lets go ahead and look at a couple of biblical principles again in this area of giving.

We find here that there was a certain designated amount that was to be brought in during the times of Joash. You can study that out on your own. Look at Exodus 30, through that particular area. You can do some of the study on your own if you want to look at that a little bit further. As we segue into the New Covenant, all of the principles of tithe--there is a big question today. Should Christians tithe? A lot of people say, "I don't think Christians ought to tithe." You ask the question, "Why not?" "Because it's the Law. It was under the Law." "Did Jesus destroy the Law? Did Jesus say, 'Okay, the Law is no longer in effect'?" Who is the Law for? The lawless. The ones who don't tithe. Then the Law comes in and says, "You will tithe!" The law of tithing does not apply to the cheerful giver, the willing heart, the man who delights in giving freely as God has prospered. As he lays aside according to God prospering him, according to God's prospering him. That is another phrase for tithe--percentage giving. The blessings of God. You give in direct proportion to how has blessed you. As God has blessed you, you lay aside the first day of the week, he said, so there are not offerings when I come. So you get a little feel for what is taking place.

Tithing, then--if you really want to get into some of the semantics of it--tithing is not wrong for the New Covenant; but the spirit is. The tithe is the least anyone can do. It's what the Law requires. We see that there were many offerings given under the Old Testament. Malachi refers to offerings that were being robbed from the House of God. If all we do here as a people is tithe, then we're just moving in bare minimum law relationship. Now, most of us here give beyond that. We give to missions and we're able to sow into Joash. Many of you have given into benevolence over the years, and helping those who are the poor among us; and those needs are ministered to, etc. That is the spirit that God is calling us to as a people. It's all to be done, as we saw, in honoring Him; but we need to look and understand this call to give in direct proportion to our ability to give. I think that is important for us to see.

Turn, if you would, to 1 Corinthians, chapter 16. I want you to see that verse I just made reference to. When Paul talks here about a systematic gathering of the finances. Now, remember who he is writing to. He is writing to the Corinthian church. He is talking about the offering that is going to be taken up to assist those that are in need in Judea. He says, "What I prefer is this: That those special offerings are prepared before I get there, so when I get there, it's all done, I can bring you the ministry that you need, I can give you the direction that God has set for the fellowship, I can deal with any of the other situations that are at hand, and we don't have to let this occupy part of the mission that we're on at that particular moment."

So we draw on Paul's wisdom as he is speaking to the Church there in Corinth. Chapter 16:2, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, [How?] as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. Get this down and understand it. "As God has prospered." This is the mind of God. This is how everything is done in the economy of God. He wants us to give as He has prospered us. Then, in the Old Testament there was that phrase that we kept looking at, "The willing heart." Those that have a willing heart. The Holy Spirit uses another phrase in the New Testament in 2 Corinthians, chapter 9. Look over there at the phrasing as Paul is speaking again to the Corinthian church. A very powerful passage in 2 Corinthians, chapter 9. Some interesting things that are taking place, again, as the offerings are being taken up. Paul speaks, verse 6, "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man [every man. I would say that every man means every man.] according as he purposeth in his heart...." Now remember, this is not the tithe. This is a special offering that was being gathered to carry out the ministry as the apostles see fit. These are the offerings that we see throughout the Scriptures that were taken and laid at the apostles' feet in the time of need. It was distributed as things were necessary, to see that every need was met in the lives of the community. He says, this is what I want you to do, "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart so let him give; [Then he gives the spirit of our giving. Look! ] not grudgingly, or of necessity...." Don't give because you feel pressured to give. Don't let peer pressure be the motivation. Don't let anything that's externally coming on you, don't let that begin to move you in a way that's is not of faith, because if it's not of faith, it's sin. Don't give "...grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:" Do you know what that says? God will give you the ability. If this is something you struggle with periodically, are you believing God to give you the grace? Are you believing God to give you the revelation and the peace, and the understanding. Even if its not something that has been made real and set your heart free instantaneously. The Scripture says, if you have a heart for God he'll give you the ability to worship Him in these ways that are pleasing, in these ways that give glory and honor. He doesn't want just the substance, as we saw in Proverbs, but to honor Him.

Go back a chapter, if you would, to chapter 8 of 2 Corinthians. There is a very interesting statement that is made in this eighth chapter. As you are reading through here in this second epistle to the Corinthians, and the gatherings that are being made. Paul, speaking toward the heart of the people, always looking at motives. The Holy Spirit, as he is directing him, is always looking at motives. He talks about the trial of the churches in Macedonia in verse one of this eighth chapter. He says, "...brethren, we [want you to know] of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality." Isn't that interesting? Motivated by trials. Adversity bring about liberality and freedom from all of the things that prosperity and abundance can do to soften, and drunken, and blind the hearts of individuals. It says, in all of these necessities they were able to move into a liberality, a deliverance from the flesh, and a perspective into the eternal and spiritual realm. It says, "For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us [How?] by the will of God. Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, [Okay, here is the needy church. Now as you abound in everything, church,] in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also." Powerful admonition.

So as you read through and you just continually see the comments that are made here. He goes on and says, "For we know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you....Now therefore [verse 11] perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance...." So many of us are moved and we say, "Praise God, that is something I want to do. I need to do something about that. As soon as I can get everything in order, I'm going to..." and he says, "No. Do it!" This is the time. The Word of the Lord has come to you. I want you to perform, not just have a willingness. Then he speaks and says, "For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not." A willing mind. I'm ready. I'm quick. I want to give; and this is what I have at the moment. God says, "That acceptable. I'll take it. It doesn't make any difference how small it is. If it's five loaves and two fishes, I'll meet the need with it, praise God. If it's just a cruse of oil, I'll meet the need with it, if it's given in faith. Make the little cake for me first, then prepare for you and the lad; but I'll take that and glorify My name. So many of us want to do something big; or, we have plans or time that isn't always in conjunction with the method or the time of God. So he says have first a willing mind then you will be ready to perform, then you will be ready to do it. This is acceptable with God. God is looking at your hearts and your willingness. Now, that doesn't mean a willing heart and no performance. You have to read it in context. "You know Lord, my heart is willing." Then perform, he says. Look at verse 13, "For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened:" We're not trying to make it easier on others and to continue to lay a burden on you because you're a prosperous people and we're going to be continually hitting you up for all the needs of all of the poor people. He says, "I'm not looking for others to be eased and you burdened." Look at verse 14, a powerful principle. "But by an equality, [and let this speak volumes to you:] that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want...." Key word is what? What is the key word in that phrase? Now!

How many of you know it may not always be like this? How many of you know we might not always be the one with the abundance? How many of you know if you sow sparingly you will reap sparingly; but if you sow bountifully you will reap bountifully? How do we know that should the Lord tarry, in years it won't be the churches in Africa sending us support? This is the economy of God, this is what Chapter 8 is speaking toward. As he is talking about the spirit of the giving, he says, I want an equality. What he is talking about is a unity, a oneness. I want you to understand how the body cares for itself. That there be no lack or any want in the House of God. So now, in your abundance, you give. Then he says, there may be the time then when its "...their abundance [watch, that they] also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:" So we see then that he was looking for a willing mind. It's acceptable to God then that he gives according to that which he has, not that which he doesn't have. In other words, we give according to how God is prospering us and blessing us at this time.

We talked about it before. What is the proper spirit in our giving? How much do we give? We give ten percent. We give our tithes. We give different offering to different projects. Then we brought up this morning a little bit about the spirit of sacrificial giving, of not offering anything to God that hasn't cost us. I think that every one of us, that sometime along here, walking through this walk that we've been in has given that way. I'm talking to some of the older ones. Has the next generation experienced that yet? That is where we left off this morning. I'm sure you were able to see, because I continued to go back to it and I couldn't get away from it, the burden that is on my heart concerning this generation. Please don't misunderstand what I am saying. We have some good kids that love God. As I shared this morning their willingness to serve one another and share the Gospel. But as we are living in this day of affluence. The Scripture makes it very clear that in the hour that we're in that by their prosperity, the Bible says, Antichrist will take these hearts captive. What seeds are being planted into the hearts of our children today; and growing that only sacrificial giving can uproot? What seeds of covetousness and worldliness are in there that have been planted through all these vehicles that we spoke of earlier--If by nothing else just the absolute ease of our affluence--that can only come out by prayer and fasting? The hearts that are set apart that say, "I won't give anything to God that has not cost me." Everybody needs to experience that sometime in their life.

I thank God, as I look back at the experiences that we have had and the things that God has allowed us to do in these areas. I've shared my testimony, and some of the young people--I think about where we are today and that by today's standards its kind of hard to even imagine this. If it hadn't had been for my father and his graciousness to have given me a car for my graduation, I would have been on the streets when I was twenty years old. Just turned twenty. Born again, I shared the testimony with you. Because of that, I lost my football scholarship, I lost all of my income, and I lost all of the tuition, and room and board. As I shared, they were giving me a three-bedroom house with all my expenses being taken care of. Man, it was the "Life of Riley." (Everybody under forty doesn't know what that is.) To be able to make a decision for God! I felt the Holy Spirit wooing me and calling me and saying, "You've got to separate yourself. You've got to separate yourself."

Later on in the Ministry, I shared with some of you young people, when I had a carte blanche offer to go into the most spectacular ministry for youth pastors in America at that time. I was given carte blanche. They were telling me, "You tell us what you want us to pay you." God was moving on my heart to come back here to Herndon. We made that decision to walk from all from all that they were doing. Trying to woo us with money and the opportunity for fame and exposure in Los Angeles. Can you imagine: Choose! Here you are a youth minister, becoming one of the hottest items in America at that time. I mean, I was on my way. I want you to know something. I could write my own ticket in those days. I'm not boasting, just telling you the facts. In one year I was put into the District at the District level in Southern California, the largest District in the Assembly of God. Moving into a place of overseeing thousands of young people. Then you come to the crossroads, and here's what's offered: Young man, up and coming: two markets, and I know which one T. D. Jakes would have picked. Two markets: LA--Herndon. Los Angeles--Herndon. Pre-McDonalds. Pre almost anything but train station and Safeway. Blinked and you missed it! Choose which market. God was able to speak and move our hearts and to move into this direction. Do you want to know why? Because when I was twenty years old I was able to leave everything. $20.00 was all I had to my name. I want some of you young people to put yourself there right now. $20.00. Because you have chosen Jesus to be your Lord, your parents said, "I don't want to have anything else to do with you. You'll never receive another dime from us. We're taking your inheritance and giving it to your brother." Twenty years old and $20.00 to my name. I've just been evicted from the three-bedroom house that the university was providing (giving me the money for). Good thing I didn't own a bunch of stuff; it all fit in the back of my GTO and that night I find a secluded place, park the car, and for the first time was not real happy with my 4-speed stick shift. It doesn't make a good bed. As I sang myself to sleep, "Little GTO you're really lookin' fine. Three deuces and a four-speed, and a three-eighty-nine." That is what I had. The next morning I woke up, and had $20.00 and no Bible. I went to the bookstore and found that Thompson Chain Bible that is back in my office, right now. It's right there. I have couple of different treasures, memorials, there. One of them is that Bible. It cost me $18.00. Two dollars left and the Word of God, and a "mobile home."

What prepares you to walk away from the offer in LA? What is it that prepares you a few years ago as we are being solicited to the most fabulous facility and opportunity in California in ministry a number of years ago, as they were wanting us to come and take up that particular ministry--at a time here we were in the middle of many different things that were not exactly stellar. I just want you to try to get this into your hearts, some of you young people. You've got to have your own Gethsemane. You've got to experience, somehow, that journey alone to the mountain top of Sinai. Someday you have to go to the hill of Mt. Moriah and offer up your Isaac. One day you're going to have to ascend Mt. Moriah and say, "No!. I'll not take it for nothing. I will not offer anything to my God that has not cost me." Once you can come to that, a seed has been sown that will keep you free the rest of your life, if you'll nurture it. The question that I want to ask tonight is: are some of us robbing our children in this time of training and preparation? Would you rather teach them now when they're under your care, or have them alone in a car somewhere? It can be done both ways.

You know the irony of my up-bringing? I shared with you that I went to church once when I was seven years old. Just about eight. Somewhere right in that area. I never went again till I was 17. By the time I walked into the church, at 19 years old, and was born again, I'd been to church twice. My mother was saved as a teenager in a Pentecostal Church. My father, as a young boy, had a 5-year (I believe it was) Sunday School pin attendance at a Southern Baptist Sunday School. He never missed a Sunday for five years. I never heard the name of Jesus growing up.

What is the generation that we're raising up going to be prepared for in what I believe are going to be the toughest times that have ever been to live on this planet? Why do you think we do some of the things we do here in our Physical Education program and in many of the youth functions. Things that we try to bring the young people, many times, into uncomfortable situations? Because we live in a time of such ease and affluence. I know the tendencies to want to have everything easy and nice for our children. Should the Lord tarry, it's going to come on you and you're going to come to another reality. Some of you that have children right now. Something is going to happen that is going to give you even a greater appreciation. That is when the little grandchildren become part of your life. Do you want to know what passage is going to become very real to you at that time? Unto your children and your -- your job is not over when your kids are raised. And, I want to tell you something else--don't buy into the American ideology that says, "That's their kids, whatever they want to do." They're your responsibility! God didn't say your responsibility ends with your children. You have a say as to what goes on in the lives of your grandchildren if you're part of the kingdom of God. There is always that gap that we've experienced in our nation, and it can't be in the Kingdom of God. What we do in this generation affects the next generation, and it will make your job a lot easier as it comes about.

As that being part of our thought, we're talking about giving according to God has blessed us. We saw David doing that as he was ministering to the Lord; but as he went to buy the threshing floor to honor God with the offering, we see his heart's cry that he would not offer anything to the Lord that had not cost him. As we understand that, our heart and our mind goes immediately to the widow's mite. That passage in Luke 21 is so vital. Turn over there and look at this. I want you to grab the spirit of it. In a nut shell this is what is says, Jesus is not impressed by the amount given; but in the amount left after you have given. This is the one record in the Scripture of the observance of Jesus as offerings are being made. In Luke 21:1 there's a very interesting thing. As Jesus was sitting there--He spent a bigger part of the day--as you look at the life of Jesus, everything He did had purpose and there was an economy about it. He didn't waste words and He didn't waste time. He couldn't afford it, with just three years of ministry. As He is there in the Temple and He is watching all of this take place, Luke 21:1.

As He looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. We know the admonition that the Lord had given in the teachings that we're not to give to be seen. Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing; and all the different aspects that He talked about trying to receive praise and recognition of men. He said, "You've received your reward. If you're trying to give to be seen of men, you've received your reward. Give in secret." Let me give you the definition of secret. We've talked about this before. It doesn't mean--and some people say, "Well, I just put cash in the offering because I don't want any records. I don't want anybody to see what I am doing." If that is what you want to do, go for it! Others aren't intending to do that, but you write in code, so nobody knows who it was. Can I tell you what "secret" is? Let me give you the definition of secret. It will help some of you so you don't have to hide. So you can make sure that nobody is looking on either side of you when the offering plate is coming by; so you can slip it in, so nobody can see what you gave. Let me give you the definition of secret. The definition of secret is: You're not doing it to be seen of men. It doesn't matter that anybody sees the amount. It is the motive of your heart. Why did you give what you gave? Did you give it to try to impress people? Did you give it to be seen of men? Or, did you give it out of a willing, cheerful heart to honor God? That doesn't mean that to save--there are numerous times people have come and put in substantial amounts of money and said, "Here, I would like to give you this because I don't necessarily feel comfortable just throwing it in the offering." Like the guy with the paper sack. The offering plate is going around and BOOM! this paper sack lands in there and people think it's a bomb or something. All of these different things.

So, you're looking at the motives of the heart; and Jesus is watching at what's going on here. It says that "...he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:" You mean more than any of the rich guys? Any one of the rich guys? No, more than all of them put together. Now, look at Jesus' economy, look at the way He sees things. He says, She gave more than all of them. "For all these have of their [What? Say it with me. What's the word?] abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury [Her necessity] hath cast in all the living that she had." Now we look at how God sees things. He's not impressed with people who give out of their abundance. What I mean by impressed is making an observation like this, or impressed with saying "I've not seen such great faith; no, not in all of Israel," as hearts express their awareness of the mercy of God, His grace. So, what the Lord is revealing to us here then, is that we give as He has blessed us. We give according to the prosperity; and in that prosperity then it says that as every man purposes in his heart. Now, we can give of the abundance, the minimal, or we can give to the place of worship, through fasting, and through sacrifice. Can you worship without sacrifice? Yes. It's all an attitude of heart. But I as I have seen in the Scriptures, I've shared with you here tonight, I believe that in every one of our lives there is going to be that time that He calls us into a worship based upon the negative effects of the affluence in our lives. What are we talking about? Case in point--rich young ruler. Something is not right. What do I have to do to have eternal life? He tells him to go and sell everything you have and give it to the poor and follow me; and he went away sorrowfully. He was very rich, and he was in bondage to his riches; and Jesus knowing the heart, then, was in bondage said, "You need to get rid of all of it." Many people make the mistake of thinking that we now are all required to give away all of it. Not so! There has to an awareness that it all belongs to God, and we give as we purpose in our heart, as the Spirit of God directs us, in direct proportion to our prosperity, according to that which we have not that which we have not. But there is not requirement of giving it all, but there is a requirement of recognizing that it all belongs to God. What is the difference? If you are in bondage, God will require it of you. He'll say, "I want that." Another example of a rich man is, you all remember, Zacchæus. He was a rich man. The Bible calls him a rich man, a very rich man. When Jesus ministered to him after they got him out of the tree, then what happened to his heart? This man who was covetous, this man who got his riches from just preying upon others, abundantly said, "I'll just empty it all out to the glory of God." I see in Zacchæus that spirit of a heart that was touched by God that wasn't in the rich young ruler. He then, gave as he had purposed. He restored back to all that he had stolen from and gave to those that were poor; and the Scriptures says he entered into the presence of God with great joy at that particular time in his life.

So we end tonight getting ready to go into our communion with the Lord, turn to the book of Acts and lets finish with this passage for tonight. This verse, most of us here are familiar with. Acts 11:29, "Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea." We find again that which we were reading of in the Corinthian church, that which we were looking at in the Church of Macedonia, the reference made back from the historical account in the book of Acts, that each gave according to his ability. Now we read you the specific passages. The giving according to your ability is really the giving according to the purpose of your heart; and those in Macedonia were giving to their hurt. I almost--Paul was taken back! He said, "My Lord!" These people said--we've all seen the different pictures. These people gave of themselves. They were jumping in the offering plates and saying, "How can we withhold anything after the way God has blessed us? Where ever the need is: Judaea, Samaria. Yes, we are in adversity. Yes, the trials are upon us. Yes, there are necessities; but if we hear of the body in need we are going to respond." That is the spirit that we want to see prevailing in this generation that is coming up in our midst.

I ask again, what have we done in preparing them for that time? We've done a lot to try to make a community that, should hard times come, if ever we came to that place of having all things in common. We've tried to set up provision for that. Now I'm not naïve. I understand that if times came like that--I was asked the other day by somebody--they said, "How many people in the book of Acts tribulation, how many people in this congregation do you think would stay?" I asked the pastors, "What are your observations?" Everyone was observant in knowing that not everyone is going to make it. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see the real commitment somewhere between ten to fifteen percent. There is a remnant. There is a remnant that God is dealing with. Now don't misunderstand. I'm not saying that ten to fifteen percent of you are all that is going to make it to heaven. I'm talking about people who really understand the message that we've been trying to communicate for the last fifteen years, to the place of being able to do it. If we don't follow that spirit and prepare our hearts for that day, we won't stand. What I mean by stand, some won't make it to heaven and others of us will experience, based upon our sowing and reaping, the justice of God. As we tried to be wise, we tried to prepare ourselves for the hours that are ahead, its this spirit that has to prevail.

Everybody after September 11, there was all of this uprising, and its been only a few months and things are waning. The possible occurrences of Y2K and people who were keen and preparing--a little time has gone by and where are we now? Where are you in your preparation for the coming of the Lord? Perilous times will come. I believe perilous times are going to come before the hour of God's wrath, before the day of the Lord, before the rapture of the Church. I want to be able to say, "Of those, Father, that You have given us, we've lost none." Don't you want to say of your household, "Father, of those You have given me, I have lost none"? You may have children backslide. You may have love ones backslide and desert you. Will you be able to say, "I've done everything possible to prepare a remnant"? That is the spirit of this hour that we're looking for.

As we prepare to wait on the Lord's table, if the brethren will come at this time. We're going to take just a moment and turn all of our focus now on the worship and thanksgiving of the greatest of all gifts. As those in Macedonia said, we offered willingly of ourselves first. That is what we're looking for at this particular time as we enter into communion: The offering of ourselves and this desire to worship Him with the greatest gift, the freedom that He has provided us by His blood.

As we are served, each one of us will remember to hold the emblems until we've all been served and we'll partake together. The passage that we read talked about the Lord being rich, and He became poor that we might become rich. That is what this communion is all about: God becoming poor, God becoming sin with our sin that we might be made righteous with His righteousness. Do you really want to understand in a nutshell what I'm trying to convey? God so loved, He gave. Do you want to see the worth? Do you want to see the motive of giving? When God gave, He gave His best. Thank God for Jesus. Amen?

As we're served, lets hold the emblems together and we'll just worship Him. He is worthy of praise. Take this time as we're being served, and let the Holy Spirit minister to you and answer the question, "Do I worship in proportion with how God has blessed me?" To put it in the vernacular of our day is: Do you worship according to your lifestyle? When I'm talking about lifestyle, I'm not talking about what you live on visibly. I'm talking about that thirty or forty percent that you're putting aside for yourself for retirement and investments and everything else. You see, I'm not ostentatious because I don't buy these things that are expensive and lavish them upon myself. No, it's not visible, but you're lavishing it upon yourself just in another way. Hearts ready and willing to worship and to return back that which He has given us so bountifully.

As you prayerfully consider what we're going to give next Sunday morning toward the mission in Africa, factor in that that is not the only need we have in this ministry. Give as the Spirit of God orders you. There are needs that are here. There are people among us that need some help in benevolence; so the opportunity to worship God will be there. The expansion of the facilities here are before us, the wisdom of God as we move in that way to honor Him. Be prayerful. Give as you purpose in your heart. What does that mean? "Well, I'm purposing to give fifty bucks." No! I'm purposing to give everything that God tells me to give. That's the purpose of my heart. I will give as God directs me. Then you begin to look at what it costs us sometimes. We already referred tonight to what it cost Abraham as he ascended that mountain. We know what the cost of Gethsemane was. The Macedonians learned it well, to give ourselves first. Does God have our heart tonight?

In an hour of fear and an hour of covetousness, in the days that are supernaturally manifesting the power of the Antichrist in destroying men in their affluence and prosperity are you safe tonight in your spirit of liberality, in honoring God with your substance, the first fruits of all of the increase? Is there any question whether you are a seeker of the Kingdom of God first and His righteousness? Is there a greater jealously for God's glory than your personal gain? That is the question.

When it comes to giving, Lord, and we hold these emblems in our hands, it becomes so obvious how great debtors we are. What can we ever do but just say, "Thank You." We can empty all that we have or ever will have, and it's not even a blip on the screen. We are such debtors, for the great free gift that you have given us, the spotless Lamb of God, the Pearl of Great Price. So Father, all we can do tonight is to give You all that we have. Again, Lord, I say, "Here is my life." I offer it for Your glory, and I thank You for the grace that enables me to present that offering. The blood that we hold in our hands, the body that was broken for us, these gifts direct our heart in praise and worship and for that we are so thankful. We partake of Your life that we might live our lives for Your glory. In Jesus' name, we receive this with thanksgiving. Amen!

Lets take of the bread together. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Your body broken for us, Lord. Your great provision for us. For in Malachi we saw this morning that You rebuke the devourer for our sake. We stay well so money is not wasted on doctors and medicine, and for that we say thank You; and we offer back to You, Lord, not only the praise, but the substance. That which we fasted we offer to You that You might be all in all. We thank You, Lord, for the blood shed; and in remembrance of You and this great offering we celebrate the victory of our deliverance and we recognize Your lordship. Thank You, Father, in Jesus' name. Amen. Let's take together. Hallelujah!

Lets stand and worship Him tonight.

Glory to God! Let's just worship Him and thank Him for the greatest gift. He gave first to liberate us to give, praise God. As the Macedonian church, we give our ourselves freely first. We give of ourselves totally. God wants your heart tonight. Freely you have received, freely give. The theme of His kingdom.

As we go into the world tomorrow, Father, they're not going to see what we purposed to do here in this place. They're not going to see the offerings, the divesting of the blessing; but what they are going to see tomorrow are epistles read of men. They are going to see people that are free from the cares of this world. They are going to see people who are not bound by covetousness, lust, and fear. They are going to see a people who are not anxious for anything, but a people who have known the peace of God. Then we can set forth that principle again, "Freely we have received, freely we give." We thank You for the privilege, Father, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Before you go, turn to someone next to you and say, "It all belongs to God." Go in peace, God's love go with you.

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