Biblical Principles of Giving - Mar. 21st, 2021

Good morning at night and see everybody here in service this morning and we just chapter 35 + 6 which says not by works of righteousness, which we have done. But according to his Mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ Our Savior. Hope you'll think about that Versa those versus this morning as we seeing it as we enjoy our our missions emphasis month and will begin this morning by singing 436 the song bring them in we invite you to stand as we sing all three verses or 36 Burns Feinstein him calling machine.

Rings and rings and rings and rings and rings and Rings 60 and help this ship but I'm help him know I'm drinking ones to find will bring the last one.

Bring bring bring.

Add another guy out on the mountains wild and high art is the master speaks to call find my shape then bring them. Bring them. Bring them in Spring. The One Ring wants 2 G.

Welcome to International Sunday in some ways. We've got some that are wearing some regalia from different parts of the world different countries here today. We're also going to have a fabulous lunch later on. If you can stay with us we invite you to do that consider yourself invited officially stay with us if you can and I'm sure that you'll be able to taste some exotic dishes from places around the world. We're excited to be able to celebrate worldwide missions. But in order for worldwide missions to happen missions has to be strong on the home front because without a home base, we don't be where we're not able to send missionaries. And so let's go ahead and open our service with a word of prayer and ask our Lord's blessing on what we do here today. Would you play with me?

Gracious Heavenly Father. We thank you for your heart to us. And you sent your messenger to us to tell us about our savior. This is been the pattern that you've used throughout history Lord. You have revealed yourself through your word and you've used your preachers to tell us about our savior Lord. I Thank you for Jesus who was willing to leave heaven and come live among us give his life for ransom for many for all who would believe on him and now Lord we have the challenge to take the message under those who haven't heard because we know Lord Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God and as we come to this Mission steamed service our heart needs to be stirred Lord. We need to see what you're doing here at home. We need to see what you're doing abroad. And for those that have their heart where you'd want it to be Lord. We're engaged in getting the word to the end of the world. And I pray that you would bless our service watch over us and stir our hearts challenge us from your word help us to be doing our part to make sure those that haven't heard can here in Lord made this church continue to remain strong as a lighthouse here in Northwest Denver for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and may your word go forth from that forth from this place unhindered met at work in our hearts and lives and I pray as the Apostle parade this morning Lord. May your word have free course with no hindrance. I thank you Lord for how you watch over and make sure that happens and we'll give you the glory for it in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you may be seated today continues our missions emphasis month and I would ask along with Pastor Ward that you be praying with the Lord would have you do for Missions this year and make sure you turn your commitment cards in if you haven't already I think the last Sunday Collect those will be Easter Sunday. And so make sure that you get those turned in so that we can have a good record of what has been committed by God's people that helps us be able to figure out which missionaries we can take our support and wear that support needs to go and we can use the local Storehouse hear of your new New Testament Bible believing Church to help support missions to the ends of the World Outreach episis for Resurrection Sunday. We have a few more Saturdays here till April 3rd. So make sure you're coming out on Saturdays. If you haven't already helped us let people know about our Resurrection Sunday services in today is our missions banquet as I mentioned a moment ago consider yourself invited. Maybe you brought a dish to share and so we're thankful for that. When we have these kind of meals. We just ask that folks bring enough for you and then maybe a few more folks beyond that and we all share together and it's a great time. I can't wait to experience some of the flavors from around the world later on this afternoon, then we were Have an afternoon service following that I'll try to start as close to 12:30 12:45. It's just possible will give enough time to eat lunch. Then we'll be back in here for afternoon service will conclude for the day. So there will be no evening service tonight at 6 don't come back tonight at 6 no evening service tonight. We're going to have an afternoon service instead March 26th. We have a youth rally at Calvary Baptist Temple in Fort Collins. And I think this is really neat how the Lord does these things? Sometimes I asked last week. And what was the Bible quiz? Well, there is there's going to be a quiz but it's not going to be over typical chapters. There's going to be a Bible quiz over get this. Okay. They must have like read our bulletins and knew what we were doing down here and it's going to be on a mission symphysis for the Youth rally at a completely different Church in a completely different town. And our young people are going to go get emission symphysis there. So I think the Lord's in that I love it when the Holy Spirit does things like that March 27th Man mark your calendars. Going to have breakfast here for our masters men at 9 a.m. March 27th, 9 a.m. Be here for breakfast and prayer time and then March 28th, next Sunday. We have missionary Matt Patton. He is to the Dominican Republic. He will be here for our Sunday night service and that will kind of culminate our missions in business this month and that's a great way to conclude I think everything and in just remember what the Lord is doing through the giving of these people here then of course April 4th is a Resurrection Sunday. That's Easter Sunday. So make sure you come for that bring somebody with you to be a great program. We have lined out in a good time to remember that our savior is risen as he said so with that I did I miss anything. There are some other things in the bulletin here about housekeeping. I probably need to cover that. If you are helping with the housekeeping Ministry and your volunteering in that capacity, I'd like to meet with you down by the piano just right after the service just briefly for a couple of moment. So if you can do that stick around just for a few moments after the service. And if you're interested in helping and housekeeping you can be there for that meeting too as well. We need help in that Ministry. We also need an aerator for Resurrection Sunday music program see brother Mike. He would be glad to help you there. If you can help us narrate some pieces for the program that the choir will be doing. And then for The Institute you can sign up for a Bible Institute on our web page. We have a portal for that mail as well. So I think that concludes all the announcements did I miss anything? Vital C nut. All right brother Tim. Come on ahead and leave us and our next song who's on the Lord's Side 372. You may remain seated while we sing 372 who was on the Lord's Side, please sing the first and then the last versus 372

bye-bye, Gracie

A man found his standard ranking big trick Mystic changing options.

Amen, thank you for your singing the choir this morning will present to us Jesus and me.

I know that you travel.

Call Maria Brown.

Amen Thank You choir and will ask you to take your handbook one time again and sing 426 as we continue with our missions theme to throw out the lifeline or 26 will sing the first and last verse please stand as we sing.

Throw out the lifeline on a crossed on it when the brother from the lifeline drifting to the rescue.

The lifeline and save into the lifeline. Someone is drifting gone with blood blood.

Thank you. You may be seated.

All right. Yeah, I want to let you know about the Exotic Mission field where I served Watkins, Colorado.

We have the different attire that folks are wearing and since my Ministries to truck drivers. I wear western clothes. I would have been told that a lot of the ranchers Cowboys are going to tennis shoes now cuz they don't want people to think their truck drivers. But anyway, I do appreciate this church supporting us in his ministry. It is and needy Ministry and it is a difficult one young fellow. Just getting out of Bible College and Seminary would have a difficult time for it. Because you don't you can't build a Ministry there. The guys that might come this evening. All they may come back 6 months 9 months later whenever they're in this area that particular time. But then I think about the times when I was pastoring. I had some folks about like that anyway.

better I spent well, I was over the road truck driver for nine and a half years before the Lord save me and called me to preach went on to be surviving college and became a pastor for about 27 years and had a few years ago things happen where I didn't feel like it past her anymore. And I was really searching or what. Do you want me to do? Any kind of later on the heart that uses some circumstances to affirming that? He said hey, you got most backgrounds. Why don't you do that? And then I took my wife Patty with me on the road for a couple of years and we were always glad when we could find a truck. Stop that had a Christian Ministry how many of them weren't very solid but some of them were fairly solid and that's one thing I try to do with this ministry yet. I had a an associate and he went to be with the Lord back in November. Now, I'm kind of stuck. I need need someone to help me on that but he was a good man and very faithful. He's been in that Ministry for well over 20 years and but some of the material he had I kind of Has gotten rid of this and replaced it, like now we use the days of days of praise for we give out for our daily devotions rather than I can. Remember the other one's name now, but they quit using the King James about 20 years ago at most of its kind of fluffy, but days are freezing up more Shawna. Well, I've done that and I will give out a lot of helps for Christians to help them grow in their Christian Life. Most of the drivers are command have a testimony of salvation. They're not all independent fundamental bible-believing area piece of literature Baptist. but They need to grow so I guess I'll book such as one by 10/2 called the LIE evolution. And I just recently got ordered some books to give up. I used to get them out. The church is where I passed your it said God wrote only one Bible by Jasper. Do you want to hear the Christian bookstore? You have a well when I started on this back in 1977. There were already close to 150 versions out there. I don't know. How many are there now because about every five or six years. It came out with a new one. Why because a leather-bound Bible Kusha 65-70 books and they make money every time they bring out a new one. That answers our question. How many Bible did John write?

Do we have a smorgasbord of Bibles that we can sit down and why I like this one. I like that one. I listen Christian rapper preacher on the radio and he'll say why I like the way the living Bible quiz that I got a buddy. It doesn't matter what you like. What matters is what did God say and you know something but my old flesh some of the things God says doesn't always said so well with my flesh. Same with yours. We got to believe what God and that's what the ministry is now is to reach people for Christ and to help these his truck drivers grow in their Christian life because they can't be at their own home Church. They could be five hundred 1500 2000 miles from the home. And so it gives him a place where they can come in and Worship the Lord sing a few songs and listen to the word being preached and to fellowship with other drivers that have exceeded 4 letters at any rate. I have a real heart to reach those people. My wife is a very good help me in my Ministry. She plays the keyboard and then we usually play at ICD for them and it's interesting nearly all the CDs that I have or buy people that I know personally. So that's something more to it than just going down to the store and buy a new one, you know. And she plays those were men she sets up the computer too because I'm computer ignorant and we live stream each service since lately. We've been running 45 to 46 in the average of people watching the livestream, but I also am closing. I started a Blog About two years ago again. I'm ignorant on that sort of that. I just write it out in longhand. Had it types it on the computer then our grandson Austin posts it. Told me yes. I guess it's about a month ago. Now he told me how many hits I've had that on that since I started 33,000.

There's I don't know. I don't even know if these big shot preachers can preach the 33.

But it's amazing. And again, all of this is just using logic. I'm not a scientist by any stretch of the imagination. But just using logic evolution is not scientific it maybe jar of constant in scientific. Jargon, but it's not scientific. It's not a logical. I start off at the Grand Canyon how many of them ever been to the Grand Canyon how many millions and millions of years it took the Colorado River to carve out that Canyon?

What's the land right beside the canyon is well over four thousand feet higher than it is north of the canyon Where the River Flows In? How to get that water to run uphill for millions of years just using logic besides out of something if if something is eroded slowly over a long. Of time by water, the result is smooth. That's why you can walk on the pebbles in the creek but not on the beach. You know that you wouldn't have a canyon you have a wide shape you do you shape Valley. So I just used some of it. I tried just a lot of logic and I suppose I'm trusting true that Ministry that maybe some folks will be. Move towards coming to the Lord because I make paper copies and I had them up with the books and also hand out DVDs by a fellow from Pensacola Florida to Creation vs. Evolution that I had those all out to them. And I hand out paper copies of my blog and put them in a nice little folder. I am tired of it you're reputable facts vs intellectual fantasies. Because that's what we're in even Christians. Sometimes you compartment compartment.

When you're in church you believe in creation cuz that's what the preacher said. But you go out here in everyday life and you believe these signs. It's it's Marian's and millions of years, close with this statement and its crew Evolutions do with yours the same thing that are Converses with dollars every time they run into a problem. They destroyed a few more million couple billion and figure that's going to fix the problem but hasn't done so neither case about all I have to say, but I appreciate the church supporting messages.

The Walking Dead

a ride by my side making me feel low he brought up there cuz I walked along life's way. He said your undeserving. I have a record of your life when you were Bound by 6. I know you are darkest secret that you would never tell you don't deserve a place with me and I heard the old hug you there?

Things I've done I surely deserve to die. My righteousness is as filthy rags. My goodness is on Monday. I can say for what you said to me.

I'll be reminding he was his under the bus.

Battery was giving me when I was born and no longer. It's under the whole praise his beard.

I'm happy to be minding him.

What can wash away my sin can make me whole again.

Sunjata, not a cup. I said it's already cuz I'm happy.

Amen, that was a song that was written by a Baptist pastor and that song has been sung internationally now, he was commenting on the testimony of that song. But the the real question for you. Is it under the blood and if it is then we have so much to thank God for do we not we'll take your Bible as our children dismissed for our children service. Join me in the book of 1st Corinthians chapter 9, so our children that are with us today. If you'd like to join my wife. She's back by the door. She'll lead you to your classroom where you can enjoy Children Service sing some songs and learn about Jesus. I love to see that great crowd of young people going to Children Service. praise the Lord First Corinthians chapter 9

will begin reading in verse 7. I'll read to versus but we're going to look at a few more of these versus through our message and compare some other scripture with scripture 1st Corinthians chapter 9. Sorry chapter 1 no 1st Corinthians chapter 9. I'll get it right to me numbers in these books.

Verse 7 who goeth a Warfare anytime at his own charges? Who planted the vineyard in Edith and not of the fruit thereof? Or who fetus of Lagunitas not of the milk of the flock. Say all these things as a man or say it's not the law of the same. Also brother sells comments about common sense might be some of what Paul's arguing for their just a little Common Sense think about Warfare think about planting and growing feeding flocks. Just use common sense when it comes to giving to the Lord. Let's ask his Blessing on our message Lord. We thank you for your word how it shows us biblical principles for giving and there's a purpose behind what we do Lord play ultimately is to bring you honor and Glory so that your name can be magnified because your name your word is magnified Above All Your Name Lord. I pray that as your work goes for us. It would do your work May It Be The Hammer that breaks the Rock and pieces but then Lord made also be the sweet balm of Gilead to our souls help us Lord to be challenged by what we hear to be more like Christ today than we were yesterday and will thank you Lord for how you reach others and in through the testimony in the life of this church as you've done in the past Lord do so in the future raise up laborers to go into the fields for they are white and the Harvest we pray Lord that will be able to give ourselves first to you and then give as you've blessed us as Purpose in our hearts maybe understand what it means to give biblically according to your word in Jesus name we pray. Amen. What are the following people have in common? Mr. Welch of Welch's grape juice? Mr. JC craft of Kraft cheese Corporation. Mr. Henry P Crowell of Quaker Oats Wallace Johnson founder of Holiday Inns JCPenney of JCPenney stores. John D. Rockefeller senior. The one thing that they all had in common some of them, you know, it's kind of hard to think about them having some things in common. Perhaps one thing they all had in common is that they all ties They all types. That doesn't mean that tithing will make you rich.

But all these people demonstrate understanding that. What they had was because of God's blessing. That's where it comes from. There was a young man accepted for the African missionary field my family. I'll be joining them here for the lunch hour in my Nigerian regalia, but they have their Nigerian regalia on that sell authentic from Nigeria. We were blessed from friends that are from Nigeria. They gave us those and so I think they look really neat. They look really neat. And so this was a young man who was accepted for the African missionary field. He reported at New York for passage, but found on further examination that his wife could not stand the climate. He was heartbroken, but he prayerfully returned to his home and determined to make all the money he could be used in spreading the kingdom of God over the world his father. He was a dentist. He started to make on the side and unfermented wine for the communion service and young man took over that business and development until it assume vast proportions. His name was Welch. And his family still manufactures grape juice today. In fact, I think we might use Welch's in our communion services at times and so it challenges us does it not to think about this man and how he has literally given hundreds of thousands of dollars to the work of missions to the work of missions. We're in Mission since I just want to challenge you with these thoughts think of ways in which you can serve God despite your human frailties. You can do something for the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's review so far we have understood together in our times that we've had that our ability to handle spiritual matters is directly related to our ability to handle financial matters. There's a direct relation. We've also understood that God has some promises in his word. He promises freedom from Financial pressure and worry. He doesn't necessarily promised riches, but he does promise freedom from worry and anxiety. We can trust him. We also have come to the agreement together by now that God is a much better manager of our resources and our finances than we are. Notice with me first this morning the purpose of Christian giving now this isn't new with me. Obviously. I didn't dream this up last night. This is not a Saturday night special here from the preacher. These are Timeless principles that work and I want to share them with you. So I claim no originality, but I want to share with you what has worked in my life and in my walk with God and hopefully it can be a blessing to you as well. I'm sure there are many around this room that could testify to the same as we think about the purpose for Christian giving a draw your attention back to 1st Corinthians chapter 9 verse 7 and 8 that we read but then picking up verses 9 through 14. The first purpose for Christian giving is none other than to propagate the spread of the Gospel. Why do we give because we want the gospel to go forward the gospel to go out? Now you're in 1st Corinthians. Let me read to you not to turn there. But let me read to you first Timothy 5:17 and 18 that verse reminds us let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor especially they who now listen labor in the word and Doctrine for the scripture said that shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn and the labourer is worthy of his reward when we give from our local home church out of our Storehouse and help somebody I brought somebody in another country somebody in another town somebody here in Colorado that is doing a whole Mission Church Plant any any way that you look at it. We are helping them and we're fulfilling the principal that's here in not muzzle the ox that Treads the corn we're helping them labored diligently in the word and Doctrine you heard where the cells testimony we are lacking in the word. We are lacking in the doctrine. That's needed for people to grow and we are not muscle those things. Paul gives us five reasons in 1st Corinthians 9 the first goes back to Common Sense in verse 7 & 8 that's a common sense argument. Are you going to go to war at your own charges? Are you going to kill your own Vineyards and not enjoy the fruits thereof some of those fruits are you? I mean, it's just a logical logical to think that somebody would I do this and not approach it in a way that makes sense who goeth of warfare anytime at his own charges. We don't do that. We don't put that on one person fund the entire military force of America know it's a corporate effort of our nation to have a strong military. We don't do that of our own charges then why would we approach the gospel Ministry any different? Because this is a spiritual warfare. We are in a spiritual Army. We're in the army of the Lord and it's a corporate Endeavor as well as God's people work together to give He says in verse 8 say are these things as a man or say it's not the law of the same also sold an inverse number 9 through 11 verses 9 through 11. He gives us the second reason he ran that is Old Testament law and I'm giving you Bible because I want to start with the scriptures. I want you to see this is what the Bible says. This isn't what some preacher says. This is what the Bible says Paul the Apostle tells us in verse 9 for it is written where in the law of Moses Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn this is an all-encompassing principal Old Testament New Testament Paul reminded Timothy of it. He's reminding to Christian Believers of it, but he reminds them this goes back to the Old Testament law. Shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn does God take care for oxen rhetorical question. The answer being don't answer out loud. You might be wrong just kidding, you know the answer to that right? It's common sense that God would take care of the ox or say is he say is he it all together for our sakes for our sakes? No doubt. This is written. What's written for our sakes Paul? What's written for the Believers at Corinth? What's written for their sake Paul? That he that plow hours. Should plow in Hope. When are family left Brighton Colorado in 2010 and went to Broomfield? It's because we had a pope. We plowed for 10 years because we had Oak. Why are we still plowing here in Northwest Denver because we still have hope Because God's not finished. They're still suppose that need to be saved. You see post as they did plow plow in hope that God's going to do a work God's going to take care of them Faith working together with that. He that plows should plow and hope that blessed. Hope the second coming of our savior is the greatest. Hope we have. He that freshest in Hope should be partaker of this. Hope partaking of Hope is a wonderful thing it is when you can see a little taste of what God has done in the lives of those that you've plowed among those that you sowed the seed among the seed of the word of God and you see it take root in their life. I have no Greater Joy is a pastor. I'm sure Pastor Ward feels the same way other pastors. You have no Greater Joy than to see the Bible take root in somebody's life. And to see them grow spiritually and be nourished to become strong mature Christians following living for Jesus Christ with their very being this is a hope we have that others to will follow in that Journey. So if we have sown unto you spiritual things poll says Is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things cuz it does take us some Carl things some material things to make sure Ministry happened. So he gives common sense as a reason. He gives the Old Testament law as a reason. He gives New Testament Traditions as a reason inverse number 12. We keep reading. And he says this if others be partakers of this power over you, okay. Are you filling in the blanks yet? Go back to that list who else partakes of this power over you while we're fastly approaching April 15th. Well, maybe that'll be extended a little while. Okay, I think you get the point. There are Community things that were involved in their things that we give ourselves to their things that we a lot things for their partakers of this power to take of the carnal things. I'm thankful to have cleared roads after it snows that's a partaker of a power over me. Okay, they take those monies and if they do with them what they're supposed to okay, I won't backrest then we might have clear roads and thank God for those snow cruise that plow that stuff boy. I know they had some tireless nights there this past us no storm. That was a lot of snow and to be able to have a clear path so we can drive and get around and I still see people complaining and getting upset. So I hate you didn't have to move that snow. It was it was pretty pretty bad getting around here. But you see that's just an example of those. I have this kind of power over us there their carnal things and we get carnal Carnival blessings out of it if you want to call it that And then that might be a silly example post as if we've sown unto you spiritual thing then would it not make sense to what's the New Testament pattern the New Testament tradition? He says never the less. We have not use this power but supper all things lest. We should hinder the gospel of Christ. This is how the gospel move forward you had local communities of Believers these local sales of Believers that supported the work of the ministry as it went forward and these churches were planted. Somebody had to help do that. Somebody had to help Paul and Luke get from troas to Macedonia. Somebody had to had to cover their fare to get on that ship and cross the Aegean Sea to heed the Macedonian call. Someone had to help. Dr. Luke along his Journey's End Timothy and these that would travel with pull there were needs in the early Church in there are needs today. He also fourthly gives us not only the New Testament tradition, but an Old Testament example, he's already provided the law now, he gives the Old Testament example in verse 13 Do you not know that they would Minister about holy things live of the things of the temple. This is reminiscent of the way Jesus dealt with some of his accusers at times. Come on Corinthian Believers. Have you not read the Old Testament at all? Have you not seen that those would take care of the things of God live at the things of God. That's how God operates. They which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar that's spelled out clearly that God had a means in place to take care of those that served and worked in that capacity. And then physically he also says remember this is ordained by Christ. If you want to take that to say commanded, I don't think that you would go wrong with that. But the word is it's ordained. Look at verse number 14 even so has the Lord what ordained again this isn't the dreams or whims of some crazy. I'd preacher saying hey we can do this we can dream this thing up know this is ordained of the Lord. This is how the gospel moves forward even so had the Lord ordained that day which preach the gospel should live of the gospel and we've Endeavor to do that. And I know brother cell has a testimony that he has endeavoured to do that as well. He shared stories with me about how the Lord has provided. It's exciting to live by faith. You never know when God is going Provide sometimes but he always does he always comes through and as we talked about those promises last time, he's never neglected those promises in his word to me since I've lived for him and no others could testify to that as well. God has taken care of you in through every way or all the day. He will take care of you. He's a great God and this was ordained of Christ. Now, let's think about the second purpose. The second purpose for Christian giving is not allowed to propagate the gospel and to spread the good news about Jesus Christ and his resurrection and his life-giving power. But it is also to provide for the needs of Christians to provide for their needs to hear. I draw your attention to 2nd Corinthians again, where we look at these Believers of Macedonia these Believers from Philippine, and that's what I can in burying other areas up close to that Macedonian region that Paul went and minister to and planted churches there. The second purpose is to provide for the needs of Christians. Naturally the church, which is financed by the giving of God's people provides for the spiritual needs of Christians. Is that not how it works in a good Ministry in a good solid bible-believing bible-teaching Ministry. We support the work of the ministry and we come and we get blessed by the teaching and preaching of the word of God and we labor in the word. We labored diligently here so that we can keep ourselves here as pastors and leaders of the church. We need to be able to give ourselves to the word and took prayer. Why because that's good for the congregation is good for the body of Christ. We are to feed the flock of God, which is Among Us. So if we give ourselves to this then we labor in this how do we support ourselves? Then it's by being taken care of the needs of Christians and not only just the ministry aspect of it, but we can also help meet each other's needs as well through giving and support we can bear one another's burdens. We can help meet physical needs you're in 2nd Corinthians chapter 8 look at verse 14 We can use what God's people give to help meet physical needs but by any quality Cole says that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want see there were some Believers in Paul's day that were hurting desperately physically hurting because of persecution because of neglect these poor Saints at Jerusalem and Paul had gone to take an offering up for them so that they could go and be a blessing and meet some of these physical needs and Paul reminds the the Corinthian Believers here. It's an equality in your abundance. It could be a supply for their want that their abundance. Also may be a supply for your want that there may be equality That's a term that people are throwing around today. And I think that few people understand what Biblical equality really means. Can I tell you this equality Act is a danger to the first amendment of our constitution. You need to know what's in that equality act and we need to do all that we can do to be a vocal opposition to things that would limit our freedoms in this country. It's a danger to Church's it's a danger to Religious Freedom. This is biblical equality notice. He said equality that there may be a quality. Not that there may be socialism. If you read socialism into this verse you do a dis Justice to the passages. Well, this is played out in the example of Joseph. I think that's the best example I can give you from the New Testament as to how this works. Joseph was a man who had property on Crete and the Holy Spirit moved on him that there were some that needed help guess where they were in Jerusalem. So you see even the saints that are ministering with the impossible if you don't know who Joseph is, that's Barnabas and maybe you've heard the joke before that. You know, you say, how are you doing? I'm doing good. And somebody says, well, there's none good but God according Jesus because he said that to the Rich Young Ruler. Did you know that the Bible actually calls one man calls in good. There's only one person that specified in the scriptures of being called good in the scriptures and you that is Barnabas. Apartment Jesus Barnabas was called good and he was a man that was lead of the Holy Spirit to sell his property on Crete and coming Les what he got from that the proceeds from an ad the Apostle speed for them to distribute to the want and in Acts chapter 4 you read after Joseph did that they had all things common that is biblical equality because we're bearing one another's burdens. It doesn't mean that you know where we're going socialistic are communistic. It means we're just looking out for each other and when the Holy Spirit directs, we're ready to move to make sure the gospel moves forward unhindered we can meet physical needs 2nd Corinthians 9, you're in 2nd Corinthians 8 just turned ahead a chapter to chapter 9 and read verse 12 for the administration of this service. Not only Supply at the want or the lack. Of the Saints but is abundant also by many thanksgiving's unto God, you know, what happened after Joseph sold his property at Crete and laid out of the Apostles feet and needs were met. God. Glory. That's what happened. Joseph didn't do it for the Limelight. Joseph didn't do it so that he could be seen he did it because the Lord let him to do it and he was a humble man. He didn't look for the spotlight on it. He just gave it and it made a need and God got the glory. You see in chapter 5 of the book of Acts. We see where some others took that a little further than it ever was intended to go. You have a man by the name of ananias and his wife Sapphira that said, hey, look what Joseph did we can do that too, except for what did they do? They didn't do it the same way Joseph did it because they did it carnally. They did it with holding things from the Lord and they actually thought they could get away with lying to the Holy Ghost and Peter calls them out on it and says you could have, you know, just been open and transparent about it. This was yours you could have done with it whatever you want to but because they wanted to look super spiritual like Joseph. They wanted everybody to think that they gave it all when they really didn't give it all that's when problems, and you see what happened with ananias and Sapphira why because the Lord will protect the testimony of the ministry. He will protect the testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There can be abundance. Of Thanksgiving unto God when we help provide for the needs of Christians. I've seen it happen time and time again in Ministry. Somebody has a need in the church is able to step up and meet that there is abundance Thanksgiving call is absolutely right here. No question about it. The third purpose for Christian giving is not only to propagate the gospel to provide for the needs of Christians. But also it helps produce the character of Christ in us as we follow him. He who being rich became poor for our sakes that's one of the greatest examples of giving that we could ever have giving is a Grace. Call spells that out clearly in Romans chapter 12, you're in 1st Corinthians. Turn back a book. You're in second crazy job to go back to books to the Book of Romans chapter number 12. And look at verse number eight. Look for giving and how this verse describes it or he that exhorteth on exhortation or he that given all right. There. We are. He that giveth let him do it with Simplicity. He that Ruth with diligence. He that show with Mercy with cheerfulness. Okay, you said this is a great. Yes. Context of this verse is that these are spiritual Graces. These are spiritual gifts that God has given to Believers every one of us has a spiritual gift to be used to the Lord. Maybe you have the gift of exhortation. That's a Grace from God. Maybe you have a gift of ruling or Administration. That's a gift from God. Maybe you have a gift of Mercy. That's a gift from God. Did you know you can also have the gift of giving and that's a gift. That's a Grace from God. He gives us Grace to do this. You could also see Luke 3:11, you don't have to turn their just listen and I think they'll have it on the screen if they're keeping up with me Luke 3:11, he answers and say them to them he that has two coats let him impart to him that hath none. And he that hath meet let him do likewise. This is a Grace and God gives Grace to those who help others 1st Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 8 that tells us so being affectionately desirous of you. We were willing to have imparted unto you not the gospel of God only. But also our own Souls because you were dear under this is this not a commentary on Paul's Ministry. It's one thing to go to a place and just preach the gospel and preach the gospel and preach the gospel and we ought to do that, but it's a totally different thing when somebody commits their soul to that people group. That's why we're in Northwest Denver, by the way, because we're committed to this people group. This is our mission field Northwest Denver. It has been since we've come out here from where we were in Pensacola and after leaving Seminary we came out here and set her hand to the plow and haven't looked back in God's been good to us the whole way but Paul when he went to a place he committed himself to them. And we have missionaries on our board that when they go somewhere they commit themselves to those people. They commit their souls to those people they preach the gospel to them. Yes, but it they put everything they have into trying to reach that people group for Jesus Christ. Why because your dear unto us? We have family. My wife has family in Minnesota. I have family in Georgia. We have family probably, you know other places that I don't even know about it because family is growing families X play. I've got no greater family than my church family right here in Northwest, Denver, Colorado. And I don't know what I do out here. If it weren't for my church family for those that have been with us through thick and thin has stood by us and it been with us through the ups and the Downs we're family and we're trying to do a work for Christ here together. Thank God for you. You're dear to me just like these saints were dear to the Apostle Paul because we see the work of God in the word of God multiplying if he's in for 28 reminds us let him that stole steal no more the rather let him labor working with his hands the thing which is good that he may have to give to him that need has there's a right way and a wrong way and it's never right to do wrong to do right that's confusing. I know think about it. You'll get it in 3 days.

There's there's no right way to do wrong plain and simple. I wish more people understood that because society today has this understanding that it's okay to take Things that don't belong to you when you have to eat in different things. The Bible is clear. Let him that stole steal them or don't do that. Don't take things that don't belong to you. Don't do that. Labor working with your hands the thing which is good. You can be productive. You can do things that can help meet these needs. Why do you do that so that you can have to give to him that needs See, that's a good balance. Isn't it? What if we got to the place where people didn't feel like they had to steal because the people that worked and labor they were so generous with it that hey I've got a bunch of my needs are met. I'm going to just let it spill over to have you had anybody in your life that it just kind of spilled over onto you from them. I have I think God for those people I didn't necessarily ask for it. But they were just of A Generous Heart. They had a Grace about them and you know what? I saw Jesus in them because of the way they lived there's a gift of giving and Romans 12 8 10 points that the New Testament gift of giving what does that involve that involves a willingness to give sacrificially and the grace to do without For the Lord's work. Sometimes we give our want like those Macedonian Believers. Did we give our lack and we give until it hurts. Sometimes we have to do that. But the gospel is precious to us. All Christians are called to contribute to support the Lord's work, but some are so gifted. So as to not only possess the resources, but also the enthusiastic willingness to give over and above the norm that Fred is the grace of giving that's a spiritual gift folks with the gift of giving are particularly sensitive. If you study them you'll notice they are sensitive people sensitive to the needs both of the perch. And a fellow Believers, they're the kind of person that looks around and they don't wait for somebody to come ask him. They just see a need and they take care of it. Hey this needs to happen. We're just going to do it because we can that's a person with the gift of giving they are sensitive. They are sensitive to those kind of needs their compassionate towards that giving is a measure of our devotion and our spiritual discernment 2nd Corinthians 8 Paul says I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forward Miss of others to prove the sincerity of Your Love they put your money where your mouth is what Paul saying, I'm going to prove the sincerity of your love. You said you love these poor Saints at Jerusalem now step up its time to help you said you would do this be a church that lives up to its name. And your commitments verse 12 of the same chapter. He says for it there first be a willing mind. It is accepted according to that a man half and not according to that. He has not it's according to what you have. But you have to be willing Lord. Yes. I'm willing. It's all yours. Just help me direct it where you wanted to go. There's a principle of and then some that's three words. Let me tell you about him. There was a successful businessman was fast The Secret of his success in his reply summed up success in those three words and then some he had learned early in life that the difference between average people and the truly successful could be summed up in those three words. Top people did what was expected.