WEBVTT NOTE Podcast: Acts 29 Vancouver Episode: Stewardship 2 - True Riches Publishing Date: 2025-10-26T03:04:44-07:00 Podcast URL: https://acts29.ca Episode URL: https://acts29.ca/stewardship-2-true-riches/ 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.000 What happens? 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:25.000 So stewardship. This is part two. So why is my stewardship important to God? Why is my stewardship important to God? Why is it so important to God? Why is He so hung up on it? Why so many parables about it? 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:36.000 Why is my stewardship so important to God? Why does He speak so often about it? 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:50.000 The answer is right at the beginning, Genesis 1.28. It's my identity. Stewardship is my identity. If you go to Genesis 1.28, 00:00:50.000 --> 00:01:08.000 Genesis 1.28. Hey, Brandon? Thanks. Genesis 1.28, and here's what it says. 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:18.000 And God blessed them and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth, subdue it, have dominion over it, the fish of the sea, the birds of the heavens, every living thing that moves on earth. 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:26.000 Behold, I've given you every plant yielding seed. And then He goes on to say, Everything that I've made are placed in your hand. 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:39.000 And so stewardship is actually the identity of man. Man was created to steward what God had made. Man was created to steward what God had made. 00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:47.000 Guys, here's the thing. There are some things that God does that He tells you right off the bat, usually in the book of Genesis in the first 11 chapters. 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:57.000 In the first 11 chapters, you will have an idea of what God really intended. Genesis 12 starts another section with Abraham. 00:01:57.000 --> 00:02:07.000 But if you look at the first 11 chapters, you'll have God's intent. And in the very first chapter, some of the first words spoken is, Hey, I've created everything. 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:19.000 I'm the owner of everything, but I'm placing it in your hands and in the hands of your descendants forever to look after. In our very identity, we are actually stewards. 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:31.000 So what's another way of defining stewardship? We are the ones that look after God's property. We are the ones that look after God's property. 00:02:31.000 --> 00:02:46.000 We are the ones that look after God's property. Stewardship is man's responsibility to manage God's property. 00:02:46.000 --> 00:03:06.000 Man's responsibility to manage God's property. When I say manage, it always involves increase. Manage is not stagnant. When we think of managers, we probably think, he just has to look over things, make sure everything runs. 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:19.000 Now, when God talks about managing, he's talking about increase. Why would he waste so much breath on so many parables if he didn't want to drive home this point? 00:03:19.000 --> 00:03:33.000 So every time any man is responsible in managing what God has placed in your hands, God thrills because it goes back to original intent. 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:49.000 So it doesn't matter whether it's a baby or a car or a flower pot. It doesn't matter whether it's money or a responsibility at work or at church. 00:03:49.000 --> 00:04:06.000 It's not connected with being paid. So it's not a job. Every time someone does this, well, God thrills. 00:04:06.000 --> 00:04:35.000 And so this process of responsibly managing God's property begins when I surrender ownership over everything, one thing at a time. 00:04:35.000 --> 00:04:46.000 Stewards do not own. For a father and mother to actually come to a point of thinking that this child must be stewarded well. 00:04:46.000 --> 00:05:07.000 This child was given to me by God to raise in a particular way so that God accomplishes all of God's ends to this child and that I will refuse all my life to exert ownership over this child and its future is very difficult. 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:13.000 And strangely enough, all our children grow up, what's the first word they learn? Mine. 00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:21.000 Strange, you never teach them that word, but that's the first word they learn. Mine, mine, mine. 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:33.000 Everything in the world is geared towards ownership. So it's a difficult thing, eh? Because it goes against the grain of stewardship. 00:05:33.000 --> 00:05:41.000 The idea of dominion was perverted by thinking that dominion was supposed to exert power and ownership. No. 00:05:41.000 --> 00:05:52.000 The kingdom belongs to a king and he sets people over things so that if they follow his ways, the things he set them over will increase. 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:59.000 Go forth, multiply, reproduce, replenish, subdue. 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:11.000 If I go about it the right way, the thing he's placed me over will prosper. 00:06:11.000 --> 00:06:14.000 Will prosper. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:18.000 Doors will open. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:24.000 Increase will come. 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:27.000 And joy will burst forth. 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:34.000 Joy is an important aspect of all this. All those parables end with, come into my joy. 00:06:34.000 --> 00:06:41.000 And if you notice, when a steward does well, what does God say? Well done, good and faithful servant. 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:47.000 What is he saying well and good and faithful over? He's saying it over stewardship, guys. 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:56.000 We think it's about Christian life, it's not. It's saying every parable that ends with well done, good and faithful servant is a commendation on stewardship. 00:06:56.000 --> 00:07:04.000 That I place things in your hand. You did well with them. Well done, good and faithful servant. Come into my joy. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:10.000 It's not well done, good and faithful preacher. Preach a crack attack sermon that was as long as it took the water to dry up. 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:16.000 That's not what he's saying. 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:19.000 So it's surprisingly about stewardship. 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:30.000 And so if I do well with the things I'm in charge of, this is what happens. If I don't, because there is an if I don't, eh? 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:46.000 If I don't, then the responsibility, please hear this, responsibility I have will be taken away. 00:07:49.000 --> 00:08:11.000 And given to someone who's not as qualified as me, but is faithful. 00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:15.000 Selah. 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:19.000 This part is true too. 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:27.000 We often look at this and we think, oh, this is not the father's nature. It is absolutely the father's nature. You do this with your kids often. 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:34.000 If you have more than one kid or if you have grown up kids, you'll see that one doesn't matter how often you try to help the kid, that's in what you do. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:43.000 You give it over to another kid. It's not that you love the kid less, but faithfulness is a critical element of the kingdom of God. 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:47.000 It's taken away. I've had this happen to me, man. 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:54.000 But because I was not I was not doing what God had asked me to do with my responsibility. 00:08:54.000 --> 00:09:06.000 He let me experiment with it, not experiment. He let me have a go at it for about one and a half years and then it shut down completely. 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:12.000 I still not come back. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:18.000 It is still not come back. 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:23.000 Sometimes God gives it back because he sees the change of heart. 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:29.000 Sometimes he says what he said to Moses. Enough. You're not going across. Stop it. 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:35.000 Both are from the nature of a father. 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:43.000 Any questions before we go on? 00:09:43.000 --> 00:09:46.000 I love that there are consequences with God. 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:50.000 It's not a question of love, but it is a question of consequences and I've paid it. 00:09:50.000 --> 00:10:04.000 Like I say, the greatest gift about growing old is a hindsight to see the consequences you could have not suffered. 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:09.000 Here's one last statement before we look at a scripture. 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:21.000 Stewardship loves what isn't yours. 00:10:21.000 --> 00:10:25.000 Stewardship loves what isn't yours. 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:32.000 It envisions and it nurtures at cost. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:35.000 Nurtures at cost. 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:40.000 So stewardship loves what isn't yours. That's the first one. 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:44.000 It envisions and it nurtures at cost. What do I mean by that? 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:48.000 First, to understand that what I have in my hand, I cannot own. 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:53.000 You cannot own your house. You cannot own your business. You cannot own your gifts. You cannot own the church. You cannot own your ministry. 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:56.000 You cannot own your children. You cannot own. 00:10:56.000 --> 00:11:03.000 We must defeat the idea of ownership. We must shift to stewardship. 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:07.000 What you cannot own. It's an essential part of... 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:14.000 I'm not saying if you buy a house, the title deed is not yours. I'm talking about in here and in here. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:20.000 One of the oddest stories to pick for stewardship is in Exodus chapter 2. 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:30.000 And so Moses is floating down a basket and Miriam is running on the side watching the basket float down the river. 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:35.000 And then Pharaoh's daughter is there. She knows this child is not hers. 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:41.000 She knows this child is Hebrew. She actually says, this must be one of the Hebrew children. 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:45.000 And she knows what happens to Hebrew children. They get slaughtered. 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:50.000 But she takes Moses. She's the one who names Moses. 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:56.000 Moses' name came to happen to come to pass because this woman really cares for this child. 00:11:56.000 --> 00:12:01.000 She takes him, educates him, knows that one day it will come out, but that's okay. 00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:04.000 She makes this child her own. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:11.000 But at the same time, she has the wisdom that comes with stewardship to say, who can wean this child? 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:13.000 Because this child needs to be fed. 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:17.000 And then comes Miriam and says, can I get a Hebrew woman to do it? 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:20.000 And who does she bring? The child's mother. 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:24.000 One of the strangest stories about stewardship. 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:29.000 And she raises Moses the best she can, not knowing that for the first 40 years, 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:33.000 she's just brought Moses into the prime of who he should be. 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:43.000 It isn't an ordinary man unfamiliar with the ways of Egypt that enters the courts of Pharaoh. 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:45.000 That is familiar ground for him. 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:49.000 The next one is envision. 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:53.000 Stewardship requires me envisioning what God has given me in my hand. 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:55.000 Is this what you've given me? 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:58.000 What will this egg become? What will this acorn become? 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:00.000 What will this seed become? 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:02.000 Begin envisioning. 00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:10.000 Stewardship requires that I see what the church will become, what Tuni will become, what Nick will become, what Joshua will become. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:13.000 I have to see it to the best of my ability. 00:13:13.000 --> 00:13:16.000 You have to envision. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:19.000 One of the people who did that was Mordecai. 00:13:19.000 --> 00:13:27.000 In Esther chapter 2 it says, and Mordecai raised a young girl called Hadassah who was beautiful to look at, 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:32.000 but her father and mother had died and when she came of age, he adopted her. 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:37.000 And when the king sent out the decree, which was basically hiring a harem, 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:42.000 he goes and he tells her, listen, don't give your Hebrew ancestry out. 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:48.000 Then he goes and walks up and down every day outside the palace trying to find out what's happening. 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:51.000 He was a guy who could envision a future. 00:13:53.000 --> 00:13:56.000 And finally, stewardship nurtures at cost. 00:13:56.000 --> 00:14:03.000 As in, it pays the price to bring to fullness that which has been placed in your hand. 00:14:03.000 --> 00:14:04.000 It pays the price. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:07.000 1 Samuel 18, verse 4. 00:14:07.000 --> 00:14:10.000 Jonathan knows that David is going to be king. 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:16.000 He also knows that he is going to be the next king by right. 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:18.000 And what does Jonathan do? 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:21.000 His dad gets angry at him. 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:28.000 But in 1 Samuel 18, 4, it says, Jonathan took off his robe, took off his belt, took off his sword. 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:30.000 These are the things that he did. 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:33.000 He took off his robe, took off his belt, took off his sword. 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:40.000 These are precious parts of a royal insignia. 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:42.000 And he takes it and hands it over to David. 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:43.000 What is he doing? 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:46.000 He's saying, listen, I know that I am next in line to be king, 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:50.000 but I also know that you are the one that God has chosen. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:55.000 Nurturing someone else's potential at cost. 00:14:55.000 --> 00:15:00.000 And do you think it will always be rewarded or people will appreciate it or people will think, great job? 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:01.000 No. 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:03.000 Big deal. 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:13.000 Stewardship is a pouring out of your life, not striking a bargain. 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:17.000 Any questions? 00:15:17.000 --> 00:15:20.000 It's a beautiful thing and it's super important to God. 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:22.000 I didn't know it was so important to God. 00:15:25.000 --> 00:15:29.000 Please take small things and take big things. 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:37.000 Sometimes the diligence some of you show while you do small things puts the rest of us to shame. 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:45.000 It sometimes irritates us because of the attention you pay to doing things well. 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:47.000 That's okay. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:54.000 Any questions? 00:15:55.000 --> 00:15:57.000 Cool. 00:15:57.000 --> 00:15:59.000 Let's look at scripture that we were looking at last time. 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:05.000 It's Luke 16, 9 to 13. 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:07.000 Luke 16, 9 to 13. 00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:09.000 Let's look at that. 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:15.000 Luke 16, 9 to 13. 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:17.000 Here's what it says. 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:21.000 Whoever can be trusted with very little. 00:16:21.000 --> 00:16:23.000 This is Jesus' words. 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:25.000 You know he does in mince words. 00:16:25.000 --> 00:16:30.000 Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much. 00:16:30.000 --> 00:16:36.000 Whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:40.000 Case in point, John chapter 12, verse 6, Judas. 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:43.000 Judas could not be trusted with very little. 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:51.000 In John chapter 12, verse 6, it says, he used to go around every so often, he'd put his hand in the collection and take some money out. 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:53.000 It was just normal for him. 00:16:53.000 --> 00:17:06.000 So it isn't surprising that a man who was dishonest and could not be trusted with mammon, which is the most inferior of things, could not then be trusted with the most precious thing in the universe, the son of God. 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:13.000 And it's always a slow burn when it comes to stuff like this. 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:16.000 We don't realize how it slowly erodes character. 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:20.000 It's never all of a sudden. 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:23.000 Ooh la la, another 112 minutes. 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:28.000 Luke 16, 9 to 13. 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:30.000 Next verse. 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:40.000 So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:48.000 And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own? 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:55.000 And it is in that context that he says, verse 13, no one can serve two masters. 00:17:55.000 --> 00:18:01.000 Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to one and despise the other. 00:18:01.000 --> 00:18:04.000 You cannot serve both God and money. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:13.000 So the choices are, and we have these choices, and there are people that have made choices, but we can change them. 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:18.000 The choices are A, can you be found trustworthy? 00:18:18.000 --> 00:18:33.000 Can I be found trustworthy and faithful to the principles, the practices, the principles, the principles? 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:52.000 Of the kingdom, when we handle dishonest, idolatrous mammon. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:19:01.000 God is not saying when you read the parable about this servant who went about forgiving people's debts so that when he knew he was going to get fired, 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:09.000 and so he thought, let me go reduce people's debts so that when I get fired, I can go to them and they'll remember what I did for them and invite them home. 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:16.000 And on one hand, Jesus is not commenting the dishonest servant, but he's calling him shrewd. 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:19.000 And this is the principle that we are supposed to get out of it. 00:19:19.000 --> 00:19:34.000 So the question is, are you trustworthy and faithful to the principles and the practices of the kingdom when you handle dishonest, idolatrous mammon or money? 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:40.000 What does it look like to be trustworthy and faithful with dishonest mammon or idolatrous mammon? 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:45.000 Well, how about Deuteronomy 8.18? What does it say? 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:55.000 Deuteronomy 8.18 says, God gives me power to gain wealth. Is that part of your psyche? Is that how you think? 00:19:55.000 --> 00:20:01.000 Let's take another scripture. Malachi 3.10. 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:09.000 Do you bring your tithes and offerings into the storehouse? So you may say, oh no, no, no, no, tithes is in the Old Testament. I don't believe in tithes anymore. 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:14.000 To begin with, tithes was 23.3%. It's good that you don't believe it. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:21.000 Then let's go to 2 Corinthians 9, verse 6 to 8. He who sows sparingly, reaps sparingly. 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:30.000 And if you are generous, then I will supply all you need for every good work so that you may abound in it with great sufficiency. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:46.000 You can pick whichever scripture you want to suit your fancy, but this is how we behave trustworthily or faithfully with the principles and the practices of the kingdom when we handle dishonest idolatrous mammon. 00:20:46.000 --> 00:20:51.000 Let me give you another scripture. 00:20:51.000 --> 00:21:01.000 How about 2 Corinthians 9, 6, 8? That's what I just called out. How about Isaiah 58, 7? 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:11.000 That I will use my resources to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to bring the homeless home, and to help those that are impoverished. Isaiah 58, verse 7. 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:18.000 Is this part of my psyche or is this something I do for Richmond outreach? 00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:22.000 Let's take another one. 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:26.000 Matthew 22, 21. 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:31.000 What does it say? Give to Caesar what is Caesar, give to God what is God. 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:37.000 So how about the taxes? How about people who want you to pay in cash so that they can avoid paying taxes? 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:44.000 How about stuff like this? I remember once being at Jeremy's dad's shop. He used to run a printing franchise. 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:51.000 I was at Jeremy's dad's shop and a guy comes in and he's trying to convince Jeremy's dad, listen, just take cash. 00:21:51.000 --> 00:21:54.000 You don't have to pay tax. I don't have to pay tax. And he's being quite convincing. 00:21:54.000 --> 00:22:04.000 And it was quite a large order. And I saw Jeremy's dad stand there and say, no, you can take the order somewhere else, but I will be charging you both taxes. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:09.000 Simple things like that. These are either written into my psyche or they are not. 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:15.000 The question is, what is non-negotiable for me when it comes to handling idolatrous mammon and dishonest wealth? 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:19.000 Because that's the category that money falls into. 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:25.000 But do I practice kingdom principles when handling it? That's the question. 00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:29.000 Let's take another scripture. 00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:33.000 1st Timothy 6, 6. 00:22:33.000 --> 00:22:37.000 1st Timothy 6, 6. 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:40.000 I don't remember that one. 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:43.000 1st Timothy 6, 6. 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:55.000 It says, godliness with contentment is great, gate grain, great gain. 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:58.000 Godliness with contentment is great gain. 00:22:58.000 --> 00:23:05.000 Am I someone who knows what it is to be content or is it always a hunger for more? 00:23:05.000 --> 00:23:11.000 A little more, a little more, a little more, slightly bigger, slightly more flashy, a little more. 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:16.000 We talked about this last week. 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:19.000 Let's take another one. 00:23:19.000 --> 00:23:22.000 Psalm 112, verse 5 to 11. 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:25.000 Psalm 112, 5 to 11. 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:31.000 It says, a good man, a man who trusts God is a man who's generous. 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:36.000 He distributes his wealth all over the place. He gives freely and graciously. 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:39.000 Therefore, he's never afraid of bad news. 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:50.000 He doesn't live in the fear that anything bad will happen because he trusts Jehovah and he knows Jehovah will take care of him. 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:54.000 Last one, Matthew 6, 31. 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:58.000 Take a stop running after the things the pagans run after. 00:23:58.000 --> 00:24:03.000 Unbelievers run after that which you wear, that which you eat, where you live. 00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:05.000 These things your father knows. 00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:07.000 Can you not run after that? 00:24:07.000 --> 00:24:10.000 Can you begin to focus on the one thing that is important, the king and the kingdom? 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:13.000 And all these things that others run after will be added to you. 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:15.000 Here's the question, church. 00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:18.000 Is that how my life is? Are those the principles I operate by? 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:26.000 And if that is not so, then I'm not operating by trustworthy principles and patterns of the kingdom when it comes to handling dishonest wealth. 00:24:26.000 --> 00:24:32.000 And at some point, I'll negotiate or I'll be affected by it or my focus will not be king and kingdom. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:35.000 It'll be other things. 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:41.000 Money has the ability to color the psyche of a person. 00:24:41.000 --> 00:24:47.000 Please don't think that because I give to the church that this is not my case. 00:24:47.000 --> 00:24:55.000 This is far deeper than that. It goes deep in. 00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:58.000 So much of stewardship is actually not about money. 00:24:58.000 --> 00:25:08.000 It's about what we think of God, how we relate to God in the context of money. 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:11.000 What's untrustworthy dealing? 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:15.000 So this was, so now we look at what does it look like? 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:17.000 The other choice we have. 00:25:17.000 --> 00:25:40.000 The other choice is untrustworthy and idolatrous mindsets when handling wealth. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:57.000 Even though I'm a citizen of the kingdom. 00:25:57.000 --> 00:26:07.000 What does that look like? How about James 5, verse 3? James 5, verse 3. 00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:10.000 I'm surprised at some of the verses we haven't seen before. 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:31.000 James 5, verse 3. 00:26:31.000 --> 00:26:36.000 It's very strange that in verse 4, the one that will deal with my hoarding, 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:39.000 the one that will deal with my not paying you your due, 00:26:39.000 --> 00:26:44.000 the one that will deal with my exploitation of the labor that you gave me, 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:49.000 is not Jesus Christ the Lord. It's not Jesus Christ the Savior. 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:52.000 It is not Jesus Christ the gentle one. 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:59.000 It is Jesus Christ the Lord of hosts, the Lord sub-aust, the avenger, the warrior. 00:26:59.000 --> 00:27:08.000 It's strange. It's very deliberate. 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:15.000 It's almost a war-like footing suddenly. James 5, verse 3. 00:27:15.000 --> 00:27:23.000 This is when I deal with money with an untrustworthy or idolatrous mindset. 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:25.000 How about 1 Timothy 6, verse 9? 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:28.000 1 Timothy 6, verse 9 bothers Christians if you read it. 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:34.000 You know, we all know 1 Timothy 6, verse 8 or 10. I'm not sure. 00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:37.000 But we don't look at verse 9. Verse 10 says, 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:40.000 For the love of money is the root of all evil. 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:44.000 That one we know. Verse 9 is worse. 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:53.000 It just takes away any room to be greedy. 00:27:53.000 --> 00:27:54.000 Look at what it says. 00:27:54.000 --> 00:28:00.000 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:07.000 into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:12.000 That's crazy. Am I not supposed to even desire to be rich? 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:21.000 Then what in the world am I going to do when I have to use the prosperity gospel? 00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:24.000 It says even someone who desires to be rich. 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:27.000 I'd examine my heart. Jacob, do you desire to be rich? 00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:37.000 Do you desire to have this and that and the other? 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:40.000 Anyone who desires to be rich falls into snares, falls into temptation, 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:44.000 falls into things that plunge you into great harm and do you harm. 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:48.000 That's just nuts, man. That's supposed to be a kingdom mindset. 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:59.000 This is what I mean by let the scriptures examine where we are. 00:28:59.000 --> 00:29:06.000 Thank God you can't argue with me because these are scriptures. 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:16.000 Ecclesiastes 5. 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:22.000 Verse 10 onwards. Ecclesiastes 5. 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:32.000 I like saying Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes 5.10. 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:37.000 Look at what it says. 00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:42.000 Nor he who loves wealth with his income. This also is vanity. 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:45.000 When goods increase, they increase who eat them. 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:49.000 And what advantage has their owner but to see them with his own eyes? 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:52.000 Let me read it from the message. 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:55.000 The one who loves money is never satisfied with money, 00:29:55.000 --> 00:29:58.000 nor the one who loves wealth with big profits, more smoke. 00:29:58.000 --> 00:30:01.000 The more loot you get, the more the looters show up. 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:05.000 And what fun is that to be robbed in broad daylight? 00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:08.000 Hard and honest work earns a good night's sleep, 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:15.000 whether supper is beans or steak, but a rich man's belly gives him insomnia. 00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:17.000 Here's a piece of bad luck I've seen happen. 00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:20.000 A man holds far more wealth than is good for him, 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:23.000 and then loses it all in a bad business deal. 00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:28.000 He fathered a child, but hasn't a cent left to give him. 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:37.000 I mean, have you even heard these verses? 00:30:37.000 --> 00:30:41.000 This is a shift of thinking, man. 00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:45.000 And if we do, the strange thing is, what happens? 00:30:45.000 --> 00:30:47.000 God prospers the thing you're stewarding. 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:50.000 He opens doors. He gives you great joy. 00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:54.000 And he brings increase because now he's not scared of giving you stuff 00:30:54.000 --> 00:31:00.000 because you have a platform built that doesn't have these seeds. 00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:12.000 When I talk about Jeremy's dad, I also mean Jacob's dad. I forgot. 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:17.000 Let's take another one. Proverbs 23, verse 4 and 5. 00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:23.000 Proverbs 23, verse 4 and 5. 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:29.000 Proverbs 23, verse 4 and 5. 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:33.000 Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich. Restrain yourself. 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:35.000 Riches disappear in the blink of an eye. 00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:39.000 Wealth sprouts wings and flies off into the wild blue yonder. 00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:45.000 One has to ask then, Jacob, do you wear yourself out trying to get rich? 00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:48.000 Are you planning different methods to get rich? 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:52.000 There was a time in my life where I would travel and add zero money, 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:56.000 and it would be to places that were poor, 00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:59.000 so you knew you wouldn't get an offering in those places. 00:31:59.000 --> 00:32:02.000 And I remember at times when I would plan my return trip, 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:06.000 I would try and hit a Western nation on a Sunday, 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:09.000 and I would text the pastor in that church saying, 00:32:09.000 --> 00:32:11.000 hey, I'll be in your city on Sunday. 00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:15.000 Just thought I'll say hello if you want to grab a coffee. 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:18.000 And that was my way of saying I'll be in town on Sunday. 00:32:18.000 --> 00:32:21.000 If you want to invite me to your church, I'd love to preach. 00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:25.000 But I would say if I preached at these churches, they would give me an offering. 00:32:25.000 --> 00:32:30.000 There are different ways that we wear ourselves trying to get rich. 00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:46.000 Don't look at me like that. Sometimes you also make such mistakes. 00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:51.000 I'll have to stop preaching from inside there if you look at me like that. 00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:57.000 I got time. 00:32:57.000 --> 00:33:06.000 Last scripture in this section, Proverbs 11, Proverbs 11, 24-26. 00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:10.000 Proverbs 11, 24-26. 00:33:31.000 --> 00:33:33.000 If I read it from the NIV. 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:46.000 Now you see the difference between being trustworthy and faithful to the principles of the kingdom 00:33:46.000 --> 00:33:50.000 in handling dishonest wealth and idolatrous mammon 00:33:50.000 --> 00:33:56.000 and ones who are not worthy of the same. 00:33:56.000 --> 00:34:01.000 And the difference between being trustworthy and faithful to the principles of the kingdom 00:34:01.000 --> 00:34:04.000 in handling dishonest wealth and idolatrous mammon 00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:14.000 and ones who are idolatrous and dishonest in their mindset and practices when they handle wealth 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:16.000 even though they are a citizen of the kingdom. 00:34:16.000 --> 00:34:19.000 And I would like to suggest to you that we should be one or the other 00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:22.000 because the worst thing to do is to be in between. 00:34:24.000 --> 00:34:26.000 Be one or the other. 00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:29.000 Any questions? 00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:38.000 Cool. 00:34:41.000 --> 00:34:43.000 Let's look at Luke 16, 12. 00:34:47.000 --> 00:34:49.000 Here's what it says. 00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:55.000 If I, Jacob, haven't proven... 00:34:55.000 --> 00:34:57.000 Write scriptures like this. 00:34:57.000 --> 00:35:01.000 Put your name in there so you don't think of someone else. 00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:08.000 If I, Jacob, haven't proven myself as trustable 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:18.000 in handling someone else's things 00:35:20.000 --> 00:35:32.000 or someone else's responsibility given to me 00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:39.000 then why should I be trusted? 00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:47.000 Why should I be trusted? 00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:51.000 With things of my own. 00:35:57.000 --> 00:35:59.000 Who said this? 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:02.000 Jesus. 00:36:05.000 --> 00:36:09.000 Embrace this. Let it go deep into our lives. 00:36:12.000 --> 00:36:16.000 If I, Jacob, haven't proven myself as trustable in handling someone else's things 00:36:16.000 --> 00:36:20.000 or in handling a responsibility that someone gave me 00:36:21.000 --> 00:36:24.000 then why should I be trusted with things of my own? 00:36:24.000 --> 00:36:27.000 I want to say to you that God deliberately uses this 00:36:27.000 --> 00:36:30.000 to either bring increase or not bring increase. 00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:35.000 Let me word it this way so you can take this to the bank. 00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:41.000 My willingness 00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:50.000 to manage in a responsible way 00:36:54.000 --> 00:36:57.000 something that belongs to you 00:36:57.000 --> 00:36:59.000 sets me up 00:37:00.000 --> 00:37:03.000 to have something of my own 00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:13.000 from God 00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:18.000 who uses this method 00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:22.000 to bring me to the bank. 00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:27.000 Who uses this method 00:37:32.000 --> 00:37:34.000 to give increase? 00:37:35.000 --> 00:37:37.000 Guys, this is the truth. 00:37:37.000 --> 00:37:39.000 There's just no way you can bypass this. 00:37:39.000 --> 00:37:41.000 There's no way I can bypass this. 00:37:41.000 --> 00:37:44.000 No amount of prayer will help you bypass this one. 00:37:45.000 --> 00:37:48.000 My willingness to manage in a responsible way 00:37:48.000 --> 00:37:50.000 something that belongs to you 00:37:50.000 --> 00:37:54.000 sets me up to have something of my own from God 00:37:54.000 --> 00:37:57.000 who uses this method to give increase. 00:37:58.000 --> 00:38:01.000 This is how he's decided he's going to do it. 00:38:03.000 --> 00:38:07.000 A church, in your marriage, at work, with your children, with money, 00:38:07.000 --> 00:38:11.000 in things, small things, big things, this is how he does it. 00:38:12.000 --> 00:38:14.000 He's set up a system. 00:38:15.000 --> 00:38:18.000 It's like software. 00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:21.000 Only he can code it. 00:38:29.000 --> 00:38:33.000 Can bring tremendous increase or can leave a stagnant? 00:38:34.000 --> 00:38:36.000 Any questions? 00:38:37.000 --> 00:38:39.000 I've been going over things 00:38:39.000 --> 00:38:43.000 that either has been given to me by somebody else 00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:46.000 or belongs to another that I now have to... 00:38:46.000 --> 00:38:48.000 And it's a long list, man, 00:38:48.000 --> 00:38:51.000 of things that I have to now correct. 00:38:51.000 --> 00:38:53.000 I'm not looking forward to it. 00:38:54.000 --> 00:38:58.000 I'm praying that they get raptured, then it's settled. 00:39:09.000 --> 00:39:11.000 Sorry, say that again, Mark. 00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:19.000 So, why do you use resources? 00:39:47.000 --> 00:39:50.000 And they're younger than me. They've invested well. 00:39:50.000 --> 00:39:52.000 But here's the question. 00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:57.000 Has what you have now or have access to now 00:39:57.000 --> 00:40:00.000 become something that prevents you from letting go? 00:40:00.000 --> 00:40:06.000 Has what you have invested in become your insurance and your security? 00:40:07.000 --> 00:40:10.000 So, it's not so much how well you invest or what you have. 00:40:10.000 --> 00:40:12.000 It is now what happens. 00:40:12.000 --> 00:40:15.000 Now that you have eight or nine houses, what are you going to do? 00:40:17.000 --> 00:40:19.000 That's the question. 00:40:19.000 --> 00:40:22.000 Like I said, money colors the psyche in here. 00:40:22.000 --> 00:40:25.000 The heart and the mind is what gets colored. 00:40:27.000 --> 00:40:29.000 So, we get caught in this cycle of, 00:40:29.000 --> 00:40:32.000 yeah, I'll invest and more will grow, more will grow. 00:40:32.000 --> 00:40:35.000 But to what end? 00:40:35.000 --> 00:40:37.000 To what end? 00:40:37.000 --> 00:40:38.000 So that one day... 00:40:38.000 --> 00:40:43.000 I'll come to a point which will make us even more uncomfortable shortly. 00:40:43.000 --> 00:40:45.000 But it's the condition of the heart. 00:40:45.000 --> 00:40:47.000 God is not against investment. 00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:53.000 In fact, in Ecclesiastes 11, 1 and 2, he says, 00:40:53.000 --> 00:40:55.000 cast your bread upon the waters, 00:40:55.000 --> 00:40:57.000 distribute it in seven, eight different places, 00:40:57.000 --> 00:40:59.000 because one day it will come back to you. 00:40:59.000 --> 00:41:01.000 If you read the message version of it, it says, 00:41:01.000 --> 00:41:03.000 hey, invest in seven, eight different things, 00:41:03.000 --> 00:41:06.000 because you don't know which may work and which may not work. 00:41:06.000 --> 00:41:08.000 So, invest, cast your bread upon the waters, 00:41:08.000 --> 00:41:10.000 and see how it comes back to you. 00:41:10.000 --> 00:41:11.000 God is into investment. 00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:14.000 He is one of the most profitable beings in the universe. 00:41:14.000 --> 00:41:17.000 Everything he does brings a good return. 00:41:27.000 --> 00:41:29.000 If God isn't in that and you know it, 00:41:29.000 --> 00:41:32.000 then you should question why the passion. 00:41:32.000 --> 00:41:34.000 But let's assume God is in that. 00:41:34.000 --> 00:41:35.000 Go with your passion. 00:41:35.000 --> 00:41:37.000 You know that God is in that. 00:41:37.000 --> 00:41:39.000 But let's assume God is in that. 00:41:39.000 --> 00:41:40.000 Go with your passion. 00:41:40.000 --> 00:41:42.000 But what's the color of my heart? 00:41:43.000 --> 00:41:46.000 Am I gaining wealth to save it for a rainy day? 00:41:46.000 --> 00:41:47.000 Simple questions. 00:41:47.000 --> 00:41:49.000 Am I gaining wealth to save it for a rainy day? 00:41:49.000 --> 00:41:51.000 Great. 00:41:51.000 --> 00:41:54.000 Good advice would be save for a rainy day. 00:41:54.000 --> 00:41:55.000 What is a rainy day? 00:41:55.000 --> 00:41:58.000 A rainy day is when everything breaks down and God won't show up. 00:42:00.000 --> 00:42:02.000 So save for a rainy day. 00:42:02.000 --> 00:42:05.000 Should we invest and keep money aside for our children? 00:42:05.000 --> 00:42:08.000 Yes, one should leave an inheritance for one's children. 00:42:08.000 --> 00:42:09.000 It's the right thing to do. 00:42:09.000 --> 00:42:13.000 But what in my mind is the definition of a rainy day? 00:42:13.000 --> 00:42:16.000 If my definition of a rainy day is Mark won't be there, 00:42:16.000 --> 00:42:18.000 the church won't be there, 00:42:18.000 --> 00:42:21.000 God won't be there when I hit a rainy day, 00:42:21.000 --> 00:42:26.000 then my psyche has to be examined because I've got a problem in the way I think. 00:42:30.000 --> 00:42:33.000 If I buy seven or eight houses so I can sell one house 00:42:33.000 --> 00:42:35.000 for each nation God has given me, 00:42:35.000 --> 00:42:37.000 great, buy eight more houses. 00:42:37.000 --> 00:42:39.000 We've got 16 nations then. 00:42:41.000 --> 00:42:46.000 But if it is I want to hold this and keep it so that my future is secure, 00:42:46.000 --> 00:42:48.000 it's one of the strangest things. 00:42:48.000 --> 00:42:55.000 Idolatrous mammon exchanges present stability for a future with God. 00:42:59.000 --> 00:43:00.000 We'll get there. 00:43:03.000 --> 00:43:13.000 Do you hold what you've been entrusted with loosely 00:43:13.000 --> 00:43:17.000 or is it your insurance and treasure for the future? 00:43:17.000 --> 00:43:20.000 Am I owned by the things I own? 00:43:20.000 --> 00:43:31.000 Am I owned by the things I own? 00:43:34.000 --> 00:43:38.000 Am I owned by the things I own? 00:43:43.000 --> 00:43:46.000 Sometimes the father will test my heart. 00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:51.000 Sometimes the father, not the devil, the father, not your wife, the father. 00:43:51.000 --> 00:44:01.000 Sometimes the father will test my heart by directing me 00:44:01.000 --> 00:44:11.000 to give away what is important to me. 00:44:11.000 --> 00:44:31.000 Sometimes the father will test my heart by directing me to give away what is important to me. 00:44:31.000 --> 00:44:33.000 He tests my heart. 00:44:33.000 --> 00:44:37.000 Why does he test my heart when he already knows my heart? 00:44:37.000 --> 00:44:40.000 Because he wants me to see what's in my heart. 00:44:40.000 --> 00:44:43.800 Why does God test your heart if he already knows what's in your heart? 00:44:43.800 --> 00:44:45.800 Why test it? Because he wants you to know. 00:44:52.800 --> 00:44:58.200 Stewarding possessions. I'll give you examples so it gets clear. 00:44:58.200 --> 00:45:08.600 Stewarding possessions requires throwing down the rod 00:45:10.000 --> 00:45:17.000 and picking up the snake by its tail. 00:45:22.000 --> 00:45:25.000 Exodus, chapter 4. 00:45:25.000 --> 00:45:28.000 Moses has a rod in his hand. 00:45:28.000 --> 00:45:37.000 It's a rod that he uses as a shepherd to ward away predators and to pull sheep to safety. 00:45:37.000 --> 00:45:42.000 It's what he has. It's the most important possession in his life. 00:45:42.000 --> 00:45:50.000 He probably found it in the desert, shaped it, carved it, sandpapered it with whatever he used then, and he's got this amazing rod. 00:45:50.000 --> 00:45:55.000 Later on it becomes a rod of God where he holds it up and armies win and armies lose. 00:45:55.000 --> 00:46:01.000 But at one point when Moses is confronted by God and God wants to completely change who Moses is, 00:46:01.000 --> 00:46:03.000 he says throw down the rod and he throws it down. 00:46:03.000 --> 00:46:06.000 And then he says pick it up by its tail because it turns into a snake. 00:46:06.000 --> 00:46:14.000 Every so often, stewarding possessions requires throwing down the rod and picking up the snake by its tail. 00:46:19.000 --> 00:46:23.000 And if I do it that way, then what I pick up begins to prosper. 00:46:23.000 --> 00:46:26.000 And if I don't do it that way, it just tastes like a piece of wood. 00:46:26.000 --> 00:46:29.000 Yep, we'll give examples. We'll give examples. 00:46:41.000 --> 00:46:49.000 To start Acts 29, required that I would have to throw down the job I previously had. 00:46:49.000 --> 00:46:53.000 I couldn't do both. So at one point you have to throw down something. 00:46:53.000 --> 00:46:58.000 People here who started businesses, people who here have started ventures, 00:46:58.000 --> 00:47:07.000 people here who've done things, realized that you can't move into something without giving up something. 00:47:07.000 --> 00:47:12.000 So I had to throw down the previous job I had and then take on a job with only two people in the church. 00:47:12.000 --> 00:47:16.000 And then the North American Baptist said they'd help us with money. 00:47:16.000 --> 00:47:18.000 They started helping us with money. 00:47:18.000 --> 00:47:24.000 Around the ninth month, we decided that if Acts 29 was to begin to move forward, 00:47:24.000 --> 00:47:28.000 then we would have to learn how to be self-sufficient. 00:47:28.000 --> 00:47:33.000 So we went and we threw down the money that was being given to us for four years after nine months 00:47:33.000 --> 00:47:35.000 saying we do not want this job. 00:47:35.000 --> 00:47:40.000 So we went and we threw down the money that was being given to us for four years after nine months 00:47:40.000 --> 00:47:46.000 saying we do not want this money because we want to be a church that is self-governing, 00:47:46.000 --> 00:47:49.000 self-reproducing and self-sustaining. 00:47:54.000 --> 00:48:01.000 I'm thinking that if we want this global revival among the 20s and 30s to begin to spread across the earth 00:48:01.000 --> 00:48:07.000 and if we want to set up 15 centers across the world where people can go get trained 00:48:07.000 --> 00:48:13.000 and see another Acts 29 or another better version of Acts 29 in 15 parts of the world, 00:48:13.000 --> 00:48:17.000 in South Africa, no, in Africa, Asia, America, all over, 00:48:17.000 --> 00:48:21.000 then once again the time has come where I'll have to throw down the rod. 00:48:22.000 --> 00:48:24.000 But I've been talking to the leaders saying, 00:48:24.000 --> 00:48:31.000 What if I can step back from Acts 29 and no longer receive the money that you give me and start afresh? 00:48:31.000 --> 00:48:36.000 Because what is required is so much greater that you can't begin to step into that 00:48:36.000 --> 00:48:39.000 unless you let go of what you presently have. 00:48:41.000 --> 00:48:46.000 So what if I continued being part of the church, I'd still teach, I'd still take 90 minutes of sermon, 00:48:46.000 --> 00:48:53.000 but I refuse to then receive what the church gives me? 00:48:54.000 --> 00:48:59.000 You know what that'll do? That'll open up so many things on the earth 00:48:59.000 --> 00:49:03.000 because one of the things God loves doing is, Hey, you've been dependent on it, 00:49:03.000 --> 00:49:06.000 let's become dependent on me again. 00:49:10.000 --> 00:49:16.000 It takes away your dependence on bread and now you've got to make sure that you go out every day and collect manna. 00:49:17.000 --> 00:49:19.000 What was the intent of manna? 00:49:19.000 --> 00:49:23.000 It was again this idea of, Hey, can I make you reliant on me? 00:49:25.000 --> 00:49:30.000 He humbled them in the desert so that they would learn that man does not live by bread alone, 00:49:30.000 --> 00:49:34.000 as in what you earn by the sweat of your brow, 00:49:34.000 --> 00:49:38.000 but man lives by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God 00:49:38.000 --> 00:49:42.000 and you become reliant and dependent upon him again. Why not? 00:49:42.000 --> 00:49:44.000 I'm kind of looking forward to it. 00:49:47.000 --> 00:49:51.000 Maybe start in January or if I have the courage, start in December. 00:49:55.000 --> 00:50:00.000 And throwing it out here in the open, I've taken another step of courage 00:50:00.000 --> 00:50:04.000 because I've been thinking of this for about two months, but didn't have the guts. 00:50:04.000 --> 00:50:07.000 This is how God begins to now increase and prosper. 00:50:10.000 --> 00:50:15.000 And when your prosperity includes the people, think of the benefit guys. 00:50:15.000 --> 00:50:19.000 God's provision is best released and retained his way. 00:50:19.000 --> 00:50:24.000 It's what keeps you from being bitten by the snake called Mammon. 00:50:25.000 --> 00:50:38.420 So I'm going to tell you about the 00:50:39.420 --> 00:50:43.420 It's what keeps you from being bitten by the snake called Mammon. 00:50:44.420 --> 00:50:50.420 God's provision is best released and retained his way. 00:50:51.420 --> 00:50:55.420 It is what keeps me from being bitten by that snake Mammon. 00:50:56.420 --> 00:51:01.420 What does Mammon do? It substitutes the provider, 00:51:01.420 --> 00:51:05.420 It substitutes the provider, Jira. 00:51:06.420 --> 00:51:12.420 It substitutes the provider with secure livelihood. 00:51:16.420 --> 00:51:24.420 It substitutes stewardship with ownership. 00:51:24.420 --> 00:51:27.420 It substitutes ownership with support. 00:51:31.420 --> 00:51:36.420 And it substitutes a glorious, adventurous future 00:51:43.420 --> 00:51:52.420 with stable, predictable present. 00:51:54.420 --> 00:51:57.420 This is what Mammon can do. 00:52:00.420 --> 00:52:06.420 Mammon can bring you to a place where it substitutes the provider, as in Jira, with secure livelihood. 00:52:06.420 --> 00:52:10.420 Have you noticed how all of us, almost everybody in this room, 00:52:10.420 --> 00:52:13.420 thinks that our provision comes from the work we do? 00:52:15.420 --> 00:52:18.420 There's nobody here that doesn't think like that. 00:52:18.420 --> 00:52:22.420 Occasionally we know better, but it's become such a part of our thinking, right? 00:52:22.420 --> 00:52:25.420 My provision comes from the work I do. 00:52:27.420 --> 00:52:35.420 And yet, if you go to Genesis chapter 1, 2 and 3, you will see that God did not connect provision and work. 00:52:36.420 --> 00:52:39.420 Provision was him. Work was something he wanted us to do. 00:52:39.420 --> 00:52:48.420 But we've connected it so that now work is held over our heads like a sword, man. 00:52:52.420 --> 00:52:55.420 Is it wrong to be ambitious? 00:53:04.420 --> 00:53:06.420 Yeah, is it wrong to be ambitious? 00:53:06.420 --> 00:53:10.420 I don't think it's wrong to be ambitious. I think it's foolish to be ambitious. 00:53:10.420 --> 00:53:17.420 Because my ambitions on the best day will be so limited compared to a dream that God gives. 00:53:18.420 --> 00:53:20.420 My ambitions are super limited. 00:53:23.420 --> 00:53:27.420 I could have never dreamed Acts 29 like this. 00:53:28.420 --> 00:53:31.420 My ambitions were much better than this. 00:53:36.420 --> 00:53:42.420 Oh my God, would I exchange this for my ambition? Absolutely not. 00:53:42.420 --> 00:53:47.420 This is brilliant. I look forward to it. What am I looking forward to? I look forward to you. 00:53:52.420 --> 00:53:57.420 It's brilliant. But my ambitions are much greater, man. It was nothing like this. 00:53:57.420 --> 00:54:00.420 But thank God it didn't go that route. 00:54:06.420 --> 00:54:08.420 Go ahead, Minna. 00:54:11.420 --> 00:54:13.420 Absolutely. 00:54:14.420 --> 00:54:17.420 Sorry, I'm excited to answer your question. 00:54:22.420 --> 00:54:24.420 I have a question for you. 00:54:24.420 --> 00:54:26.420 I have a question for you. 00:54:26.420 --> 00:54:28.420 I have a question for you. 00:54:28.420 --> 00:54:31.420 Can you imagine a child in the world who is really talented? 00:54:31.420 --> 00:54:36.420 Yep. So imagine yourself as a little girl, okay? 00:54:36.420 --> 00:54:39.420 And your dad has a dream for you. 00:54:39.420 --> 00:54:41.420 And that dream is perfect. 00:54:41.420 --> 00:54:49.420 It will address who you are, how you think, your talents, your gifts, your abilities, your passion, your interests. 00:54:49.420 --> 00:54:51.420 It will address all of it. 00:54:51.420 --> 00:54:54.420 Now, he wants you to find it. 00:54:54.420 --> 00:55:00.420 And when you find it, then Meera begins to walk in it. 00:55:00.420 --> 00:55:05.420 And she begins to plan it, because he says, hey Meera, by 2027, I want you to be here. 00:55:05.420 --> 00:55:08.420 By 2029, I want you to be here. 00:55:08.420 --> 00:55:13.420 And then he begins to send people into your lives, like this amazing preacher called Jacob and a few others. 00:55:13.420 --> 00:55:16.420 And they begin to then contribute to your journey. 00:55:16.420 --> 00:55:19.420 Your plan now is based on your father's dream. 00:55:19.420 --> 00:55:29.420 And this little girl who didn't know that she would one day end up being a tennis star, winning all five Grand Slams, but her dad saw it. 00:55:29.420 --> 00:55:32.420 And so he brought in the Amrit Raj brothers in India. 00:55:32.420 --> 00:55:35.420 Then he brought in Pat Kesh, you won't know who that is. 00:55:35.420 --> 00:55:44.420 And then Steffi Graf, and you end up becoming one of the top tennis stars in the world. 00:55:44.420 --> 00:55:49.420 The important thing is to get a grasp of the dream so that he can begin to plan it with you. 00:55:49.420 --> 00:55:51.420 And that is difficult work. 00:55:51.420 --> 00:55:56.420 But once you get it, it's very hard then to miss. 00:55:56.420 --> 00:56:01.420 You know, someone said this, it's not my quote, successful people are people. 00:56:01.420 --> 00:56:04.420 How do you know a person has achieved success? 00:56:04.420 --> 00:56:12.420 A person that has achieved success has begun to complete and fulfill the dream that God had for them before they were born. 00:56:12.420 --> 00:56:14.420 That's a successful person. 00:56:15.420 --> 00:56:26.420 A successful person is a person who has accomplished, fulfilled, completed what they were placed here for. 00:56:26.420 --> 00:56:33.420 Now the book calls them the happiest people on earth, people who found out why they were here. 00:56:34.420 --> 00:56:37.420 That is what it looks like. 00:56:37.420 --> 00:56:39.420 And it has a plan. 00:56:39.420 --> 00:56:46.420 Do you know, this service might have looked spontaneous, but my God, I've been planning it from last night. 00:56:46.420 --> 00:56:48.420 And then I'll come and pretend that it's all spontaneous. 00:56:48.420 --> 00:56:49.420 It's not. 00:56:49.420 --> 00:56:51.420 There's a lot of work that has gone in. 00:56:51.420 --> 00:56:56.420 When to go into the water, which girl to bring first, what verse. 00:56:56.420 --> 00:56:58.420 There's so many parts that go into it. 00:56:58.420 --> 00:56:59.420 It's planned. 00:56:59.420 --> 00:57:04.420 If a little service can be planned like this, imagine what else has to be planned. 00:57:04.420 --> 00:57:09.420 Guys are going to Kelowna to be at Nie's church on Friday. 00:57:09.420 --> 00:57:10.420 It has to be planned. 00:57:10.420 --> 00:57:13.420 If it's not planned, it's irresponsible. 00:57:13.420 --> 00:57:15.420 It's not good stewardship. 00:57:15.420 --> 00:57:18.420 But can you plan his dream instead of planning your ambitions? 00:57:21.420 --> 00:57:24.420 Can you plan his dream instead of planning your ambitions? 00:57:28.420 --> 00:57:31.420 Because once you have it, then you can wait. 00:57:31.420 --> 00:57:34.420 You know what allows you to wait through tough times? 00:57:34.420 --> 00:57:37.420 When the going gets tough, the tough don't go back. 00:57:37.420 --> 00:57:39.420 What's it when the going gets tough? 00:57:40.420 --> 00:57:41.420 The tough get going. 00:57:42.420 --> 00:57:45.420 When the going gets tough, the tough go back to their calling. 00:57:47.420 --> 00:57:51.420 When the going gets tough, they go back to, ah, but I remember what God called me for. 00:57:51.420 --> 00:57:52.420 I can wait a little longer. 00:57:52.420 --> 00:57:56.420 And I can wait with half a smile on my face because it's coming. 00:57:56.420 --> 00:58:04.420 You know, these 15 centers I'm talking about around the world, 12 years, man, you'll see. 00:58:06.420 --> 00:58:07.420 New York. 00:58:08.420 --> 00:58:10.420 You can ask Larissa, she's here. 00:58:10.420 --> 00:58:12.420 It's growing, man. 00:58:12.420 --> 00:58:13.420 But did it cost? 00:58:13.420 --> 00:58:14.420 Yeah. 00:58:15.420 --> 00:58:18.420 You know, when we rented a space there, you want to know about laying things down? 00:58:18.420 --> 00:58:24.420 When we rented a space there, someone came and said, we'll pay for an entire year of the space. 00:58:24.420 --> 00:58:27.420 And it was thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars. 00:58:28.420 --> 00:58:31.420 And I'm sitting there and they are being generous. 00:58:31.420 --> 00:58:32.420 They're being sacrificial. 00:58:32.420 --> 00:58:33.420 They're being a blessing. 00:58:33.420 --> 00:58:36.420 And they're saying, we want to pay for the entire year. 00:58:36.420 --> 00:58:40.420 And I'm sitting there and God is saying, these guys are doing what I told them to. 00:58:40.420 --> 00:58:42.420 But here's what I want you to do. 00:58:42.420 --> 00:58:44.420 I want you to say no. 00:58:44.420 --> 00:58:48.420 And I'm saying to the Lord, Father, that's not how testimonies end. 00:58:49.420 --> 00:58:55.420 When you take a step of faith and someone comes and gives you an entire year's worth of things, take it. 00:58:56.420 --> 00:59:00.420 But he said, no, they are being obedient to what I told them. 00:59:00.420 --> 00:59:04.420 You be obedient to what I'm telling you because you have to pay a price for it. 00:59:12.420 --> 00:59:13.420 Yeah. 00:59:13.420 --> 00:59:16.420 Let's wrap up because the water is almost done. 00:59:17.420 --> 00:59:18.420 Oh, shucks. 00:59:18.420 --> 00:59:20.420 I hardly have a few minutes left. 00:59:27.420 --> 00:59:30.420 He's coming to check if I'm telling the truth. 00:59:30.420 --> 00:59:31.420 Couple of statements. 00:59:31.420 --> 00:59:43.420 My relationship with money is a measure of his fatherhood. 00:59:43.420 --> 00:59:52.420 My orphanhood and fear of abandonment. 00:59:53.420 --> 00:59:56.420 Of his fatherhood. 01:00:01.420 --> 01:00:02.420 My orphanhood. 01:00:08.420 --> 01:00:10.420 And fear of abandonment. 01:00:15.420 --> 01:00:18.420 Mammon renders many of us orphans. 01:00:18.420 --> 01:00:27.700 orphans. Mammon renders many of us orphans. As in, money has the ability to render many of us as 01:00:27.700 --> 01:00:37.300 orphans because my relationship with money is a measure of his fatherhood, of my orphanhood, 01:00:39.860 --> 01:00:47.860 and the fear of abandonment. You think I'm not scared now that I've blurted out what I want to 01:00:47.860 --> 01:00:54.660 do? You think I'm not scared? I'm super scared. What does it reveal? It reveals my orphanhood 01:00:55.460 --> 01:01:00.260 and my fear. I won't work out. 01:01:00.260 --> 01:01:27.780 What does it reveal? It reveals the extent of a scarcity mentality. 01:01:31.060 --> 01:01:32.020 That exposes 01:01:35.780 --> 01:01:42.340 my fear of lack and want. 01:01:48.820 --> 01:01:52.740 In a church like this where there are strong believers who are generous, 01:01:52.740 --> 01:01:57.700 it's very hard to face up to or to convince someone that we suffer from this. 01:02:00.420 --> 01:02:05.780 I bring it up with people and they'll say, no, I don't have a problem. I give money. It's not 01:02:05.780 --> 01:02:11.380 important. It's just a thing that we use and the usual cliches and scratching my head thinking, 01:02:13.060 --> 01:02:17.140 no, man, we suffer this. We've got to overcome this. 01:02:20.660 --> 01:02:25.060 It reveals the extent of a scarcity mentality. And what's a scarcity mentality? 01:02:25.060 --> 01:02:27.780 It exposes the fear of lack and the fear of want. 01:02:30.260 --> 01:02:39.940 It's very hard to steward when these are the things that drive me. The prosperity gospel is 01:02:39.940 --> 01:02:49.380 driven by two things, lack and want. If lack and want were absent, you would not be able to preach 01:02:49.380 --> 01:02:55.460 the prosperity gospel. You feed on people's lack and want, but you tell them that God will provide 01:02:55.460 --> 01:03:05.300 if they so. Now what, Srivik? 01:03:13.140 --> 01:03:19.300 Your daughter gets a free pass and not you. 01:03:25.700 --> 01:03:30.580 Can you turn to Genesis 14 verse 17 to Genesis 15 verse 1? 01:03:30.580 --> 01:03:37.580 Genesis 14 verse 17 to Genesis 15 verse 1. 01:03:37.580 --> 01:03:55.580 Genesis 14 verse 17 to Genesis 15 verse 1. 01:03:55.580 --> 01:04:03.580 After Abram returned from defeating Kedur-Laomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the valley of Shaveh. 01:04:03.580 --> 01:04:05.580 That's the king's valley. 01:04:05.580 --> 01:04:08.580 Then Melchizedek, the king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. 01:04:08.580 --> 01:04:11.580 He was the priest of God Most High and he blessed Abram saying, 01:04:11.580 --> 01:04:20.580 Blessed be Abram by God Most High, creator of heaven and earth, and praised be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand. 01:04:20.580 --> 01:04:22.580 And Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 01:04:22.580 --> 01:04:26.580 The king of Sodom said to Abram, give me the people, keep the goods for yourself. 01:04:26.580 --> 01:04:41.580 Abram said to the king of Sodom, with raised hand I have sworn an oath to the Lord God Most High, creator of heaven and earth, that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say I made Abram rich. 01:04:41.580 --> 01:04:48.580 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me to Anar, Eshkol and Mamre. 01:04:48.580 --> 01:04:50.580 Let them have their share. 01:04:50.580 --> 01:04:59.580 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abraham in a vision, Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield, your very great reward. 01:04:59.580 --> 01:05:29.580 Our stewardship, our stewardship over things that are natural, our stewardship over things that are natural, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, read 01:05:29.580 --> 01:05:34.640 readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, 01:05:34.640 --> 01:05:36.840 readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, readies, 01:05:36.840 --> 01:05:42.440 end isлись for the things unseen and supernatural. 01:05:42.440 --> 01:05:46.440 understand, for the things unseen and supernatural. 01:05:46.440 --> 01:05:49.800 on the tablet of your heart. 01:05:52.680 --> 01:05:55.960 Guys, just like God decided that clouds will bring rain 01:05:55.960 --> 01:06:01.400 and not leaves, the same way God has decided that this is how I'll do 01:06:01.400 --> 01:06:05.880 things. If you can steward things that are 01:06:05.880 --> 01:06:11.240 natural, things that are inferior, like money, if you can steward that well, 01:06:11.320 --> 01:06:18.040 then Jacob, then Acts 29, I will then allow you or give you the ability to 01:06:18.040 --> 01:06:22.120 become ready for the things that are unseen and supernatural. 01:06:22.120 --> 01:06:25.160 That's what's happening in Genesis 14, 17 to 15. 01:06:25.160 --> 01:06:32.600 One, my stewardship of the natural is a test. My stewardship 01:06:32.600 --> 01:06:40.440 of the natural is a test for the supernatural. 01:06:41.240 --> 01:06:51.640 Which means then guys that if I fail this test, 01:06:51.640 --> 01:06:56.440 I will not be able to participate in it like I should. 01:06:57.560 --> 01:07:01.480 Do you believe that? Because I find it hard to believe. I just think a whole 01:07:01.480 --> 01:07:05.400 lot of worship and prayer should cut it. 01:07:07.480 --> 01:07:10.440 That's our problem. We've got so many of these other options, right? 01:07:10.440 --> 01:07:15.160 Prayer, speaking tongues, go out, wear shirts that say Science, Miracles, and 01:07:15.160 --> 01:07:20.200 Wonders. Do all this and it'll happen. All those are nice, but the basis is 01:07:20.200 --> 01:07:23.560 something blooming else. 01:07:31.000 --> 01:07:36.280 So the topic was true riches. What are we talking about? Here is a 01:07:36.280 --> 01:07:38.040 list of true riches and we'll end with that 01:07:38.040 --> 01:07:44.280 and continue next week. True riches. Here are true riches. This is what you get. 01:07:44.280 --> 01:07:48.200 This is what Jacob gets when he stewards things that are natural. 01:07:48.200 --> 01:07:52.440 This is what Acts 29 will get even if Jacob as a pastor begins to steward 01:07:52.440 --> 01:07:55.480 things in the natural. Guys, it's always a trickle-down effect. 01:07:55.480 --> 01:07:59.960 If Remy stewards that which is natural well, 01:07:59.960 --> 01:08:06.280 Jaya, Hamari, and Judah get to benefit from Remy's stewarding because he's 01:08:06.360 --> 01:08:10.200 first among equals. If I steward things in the natural well, 01:08:10.200 --> 01:08:13.400 the entire church benefits and if I don't, 01:08:13.400 --> 01:08:17.400 you benefit less. It's not that you don't benefit, 01:08:17.400 --> 01:08:22.760 you benefit less. It's just a principle God has established. 01:08:22.760 --> 01:08:26.280 It's like gravity. There's nothing you can do about it. See, 01:08:26.280 --> 01:08:34.040 came down. It just works. So here are true riches, but these true riches 01:08:34.040 --> 01:08:39.800 are kind of dependent on how you and I steward the inferior things. What are the 01:08:39.800 --> 01:08:45.080 inferior things? The inferior things are anything that brings you, you know what 01:08:45.080 --> 01:08:49.000 the word mammon means. Mammon doesn't mean just money. It means security. 01:08:49.000 --> 01:08:56.120 It means money. It means wealth. It means things. It means property. 01:08:56.120 --> 01:09:05.800 It means wages. It means livelihood. It's just all this and this is inferior. 01:09:05.800 --> 01:09:09.480 Jesus is saying, if you can't, Jacob, if you don't know how to handle 01:09:09.480 --> 01:09:12.520 inferior things, how am I going to give you superior things? How am I going to 01:09:12.520 --> 01:09:16.840 give you true riches? So we end with what true riches are. Here's a list of true 01:09:16.840 --> 01:09:20.520 riches. You can add more, but this is pretty exhaustive gift. 01:09:20.520 --> 01:09:25.240 True riches are in the unseen realm, but they come into the 01:09:25.240 --> 01:09:31.000 physical always. True riches, one, spiritual gifts. 01:09:33.480 --> 01:09:40.840 Two, promises from heaven for the earth and sometimes for you directly. 01:09:40.840 --> 01:09:47.880 Three, favor like Joseph had. That kind of favor. Four, revelation 01:09:47.880 --> 01:09:51.560 and insight like Solomon had, like John had, 01:09:51.560 --> 01:09:55.960 like Peter had. This revelation did not come to you from flesh and blood, but 01:09:55.960 --> 01:09:59.480 came to you from the Father. And so I give to you the keys of the 01:09:59.480 --> 01:10:04.280 kingdom. What you open will not be shut. What you shut will not be open. 01:10:05.320 --> 01:10:10.040 Maturity comes with stewardship. Absolutely. As you begin to steward 01:10:10.040 --> 01:10:16.200 things in the natural, surprisingly it's an affected anointing. 01:10:16.920 --> 01:10:21.400 Have you noticed how there are some average singers who when they open their 01:10:21.400 --> 01:10:27.880 mouth and sing, God turns up? How come? Because they're faithful, man. 01:10:35.640 --> 01:10:41.640 Anointing. Chances to partner with the impossible. Chances to partner 01:10:42.520 --> 01:10:44.520 for the impossible. 01:10:51.320 --> 01:10:57.320 Heaven's purposes here on earth. 01:11:01.320 --> 01:11:04.040 Your identity getting more solid. 01:11:06.440 --> 01:11:09.960 Streams of glory. What do I mean by streams of glory? 01:11:10.600 --> 01:11:14.520 Like the different revivals that have happened. Like when God turns up. 01:11:14.520 --> 01:11:18.520 Like when God affects a small group of people or a nation. Like I said, one day 01:11:18.520 --> 01:11:22.280 I want this to light up at night. But that's just a dream of mine. 01:11:23.240 --> 01:11:25.960 Making things new where signs of miracles 01:11:27.880 --> 01:11:37.000 and healings happen. This is what true riches looks like. Is there anybody here 01:11:37.000 --> 01:11:42.520 who does not want this like crazy? And if you are one of those people who does 01:11:42.520 --> 01:11:46.920 not want this like crazy, that's okay. But know that you don't want this like 01:11:46.920 --> 01:11:53.000 crazy. I want this like crazy. And if I get this like crazy, the entire world 01:11:53.000 --> 01:11:55.480 will be affected. The world around me will be affected. 01:11:57.640 --> 01:12:02.600 Your children will be affected. This is the superior stuff. 01:12:02.600 --> 01:12:09.560 This is the superior stuff. And this superior stuff comes when I steward 01:12:09.560 --> 01:12:13.320 the inferior stuff well. We'll stop there. 01:12:17.800 --> 01:12:22.280 Next week we will continue with stewardship. 01:12:33.400 --> 01:12:34.280 Okay, let's pray. 01:12:41.640 --> 01:12:44.280 That's crazy man. I timed it so well. 01:12:44.280 --> 01:13:05.160 Jesus, that's a lot of stuff that's said. But if I'm struggling with 01:13:05.240 --> 01:13:14.200 a wrong mindset with dealing with dishonest mammon, I just want to stand up 01:13:14.200 --> 01:13:18.120 where I am. And Jesus, I just want you to know that I, Jacob, am standing up 01:13:18.600 --> 01:13:23.080 because I'm not handling it well. And in the process, you won't be able to trust 01:13:23.080 --> 01:13:30.120 me with true riches. So around this room, there are people that don't think 01:13:30.360 --> 01:13:35.960 their relationship with money is right. I just pray that they stand. 01:13:35.960 --> 01:13:56.680 Are there anyone with a scarcity mentality? 01:13:59.160 --> 01:14:03.720 Afraid of lack, afraid of want? Any of these things we mentioned where 01:14:04.280 --> 01:14:10.120 you're not stewarding the things well. I just pray that we stand where we are. 01:14:10.120 --> 01:14:13.960 No pressure about some of us have the ability to handle it well. I'm just 01:14:13.960 --> 01:14:18.040 talking about others like me who don't. 01:14:23.960 --> 01:14:31.640 So Jesus, as you see us, I just ask that you would begin work in us 01:14:31.640 --> 01:14:36.920 one thing at a time. For some of us, it may be. I'm not even going to go down 01:14:36.920 --> 01:14:46.200 that route. Father, we need help. We're not standing up because we don't have 01:14:46.200 --> 01:14:49.160 money. We're standing up because we don't know how to deal with it when we 01:14:49.160 --> 01:14:53.160 have it and when we don't have it. We are standing up because there's fear of 01:14:53.160 --> 01:14:58.520 lack. There's a fear of want. There's a fear of abandonment. There's an 01:14:58.760 --> 01:15:05.160 There's an orphanhood mentality. Jesus, would you please help us? That's all I'm 01:15:05.160 --> 01:15:13.800 asking. Would you help me? Would you help people in this room? You see us, right? 01:15:15.000 --> 01:15:21.000 Please help us. We want to get this right. That's all I ask right now. In Jesus' name, 01:15:21.000 --> 01:15:23.000 Amen. 01:15:29.480 --> 01:15:33.560 Guys, if you need prayer, there'll be people here to pray with you. I forgot to 01:15:33.560 --> 01:15:38.920 announce that these offering boxes are here. Sometimes we forget to put them out. 01:15:38.920 --> 01:15:45.560 And I wonder what it means when it says, give offerings hilariously. What would 01:15:45.560 --> 01:15:52.360 that look like? What do you think it would look like? 01:15:52.360 --> 01:15:56.200 Okay, let me ask you this question. The teaching is done. I'm just asking you a 01:15:56.200 --> 01:16:03.960 question for my own... Can you imagine a situation where you gave laughing your 01:16:03.960 --> 01:16:15.800 head off and you couldn't control it? Anyone? You guys did. That's great. Anybody 01:16:16.600 --> 01:16:26.520 else? Like you were so happy you burst out laughing as you were giving. Okay, only 01:16:26.520 --> 01:16:35.160 two people there. And those two can be quite crazy. So yeah, cool. Just a 01:16:35.160 --> 01:16:41.160 question. Tuni, you can come up and stand with me if you want.